An Orange County jury found 37-year-old Lucien Harris guilty of Second Degree Murder for the shooting death of his grandfather, a Vietnam veteran and renowned local boxing trainer.
On February 22, 2019, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Fountain View Boulevard after receiving a 911 call from Harris saying a gun went off during a struggle between him and his grandfather, 74-year-old Lucius Harris. When deputies arrived at the home near Ocoee, they found Lucius Harris deceased in a bedroom.
In the moments following the shooting, Harris was captured on a surveillance camera fleeing the scene. While on the run, he called multiple family members, stating he had shot his grandfather during an argument. Central Florida law enforcement apprehended Harris in Lake County, but not before he discarded the firearm used to kill his grandfather.
Harris claimed when he shot his grandfather, he had just been choked and believed his grandfather was reaching into his pocket for a firearm.
Harris’ claims of self-defense were refuted by physical and testimonial evidence obtained by the diligent work of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Before trial, Harris unsuccessfully represented himself in a Stand Your Ground hearing.
After a five-day trial, a jury found Harris guilty of Second Degree Murder (with a Firearm), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
The Second Degree Murder (with a firearm) conviction carries a mandatory 25-year minimum sentence. Harris will be sentenced on April 12th.
