KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree announced Tuesday that his office has filed charges against the suspect in the Saturday shooting death of Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Deputy Elijah Ming.
Shawn M. Harris, 38, is charged with one count of capital murder and one count of criminal possession of a weapon by a felon in Saturday’s deadly shooting outside a home in southern Kansas City, Kansas.
Dupree noted the crime of capital murder carries a possible life sentence and the possibility of the death penalty. Dupree said he has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty and would seek counsel from Ming's family, law enforcement partners and others in the community before making his decision.
"This decision is one not made lightly," Dupree said of deciding on the death penalty.
The DA faces a 10-day deadline to decide.
Dupree said he would be personally prosecuting the case.
By Tuesday afternoon, three attorneys - Mark Manna, Peter Conley and Steve Repurt - from the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit had filed entries of appearance to represent Harris.
"We have formally been appointed to represent Mr. Harris. We represent all individuals whom are indigent and charged with capital murder in the State of Kansas. We will have no further comment at this time," Manna said in an email statement Tuesday to KSHB 41 News reporter Alyssa Jackson.
ORIGINAL REPORT |Neighbors hear gunfire as police respond to Wyandotte County deputy shotHarris remains in custody in the Johnson County, Kansas, Detention Center.
During his arraignment Tuesday afternoon, Harris entered a not guilty plea, and his bond was set at $2 million.
Harris' next court appearance is set for Aug. 21.
LINK |
Candlelight vigil planned for 8:30 p.m. Wednesday for Deputy MingOfficials remember Deputy Ming
"Please know that Wyandotte County will forever be grateful for the life, legacy and sacrifice that Deputy Ming made for the safety of us all," Dupree said in a message directed toward Ming's family.
RELATED |Funeral arrangements for Ming have not yet been announced. The Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office said the agency is working to establish a fund the public can contribute to.
On Sunday, members of KCK's faith community
Kansas City, Kansas, church gathers in prayer for fallen Wyandotte County sheriff's deputyMonday afternoon, members of the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office gathered to place flowers and take a moment to remember Ming at a memorial outside the sheriff's office.'Always so mannerable': Fallen WyCo deputy loved KCK pizza place since childhoodJohn Hill III used to coach Ming at Fort Scott Community College.
“He was always being part of the solution, moving us forward,”
'A servant's heart': Fallen WyCo Deputy Elijah Ming's college baseball coach remembers former player
—
If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477),
submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.
![020626_KSHB_Image_NXA_Web_Standard Cube[88].jpg](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0ead409/2147483647/strip/true/crop/300x225+0+13/resize/960x720!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8f%2F6c%2Ffad8bd2346c5a4d4ead793017d4a%2F020626-kshb-image-nxa-web-standard-cube88.jpg)