Handprint, videos led to slaying suspect's arrest

Darreo Harris
Darreo Harris
photo Darreo Harris

A handprint and videos from the New Year's Day shooting death of 18-year-old Juan Boyd led to a 22-year-old suspect who is now in custody, police said Wednesday.

Boyd was killed in the attack, which happened at the Waffle House on Brainerd Road around 3 a.m. on Jan. 1.

In videos that pictured the attack, a man runs toward the car and fires at Boyd and the car's driver. Then the man reaches the car, puts a hand on the back of the car to slow down and shoots again, through the back windshield.

Investigators were able to pull a handprint from the car and match it to 23-year-old Darreo Harris. He was arrested Tuesday on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a dangerous felony.

Police Chief Fred Fletcher said Wednesday that police have not discovered a clear motive for the attack, but that both Boyd and Harris were validated gang members -- Boyd with the Rollin 60 Crips, and Harris with the Kemp Drive Posse.

Counting Harris, police have arrested suspects in two of the three homicides in Chattanooga so far this year. A couple of hours before Boyd was killed, 24-year-old Deoaunte Dean was gunned down in his home on Dorris Street.

That homicide remains unsolved. Police have not connected the two shootings, although Dean was also a known gang member.

Fletcher said his department will continue to aggressively investigate until a suspect is arrested in Dean's homicide -- and in every other act of violence.

"We will come after anyone who would do us harm with everything we have, for as long as it takes," Fletcher said. "The violence must stop."

Harris is scheduled to appear in Hamilton County Sessions Court on Jan. 20 in front of Judge Gary Starnes.

Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas.

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