Taj Harris, a 23-year-old man from Paragould, Arkansas, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after admitting to shooting at police officers on February 7, 2021.
According to court documents, Paragould police officers were attempting to take Harris into custody when he pulled out a firearm and began shooting at one of the officers. The officer was forced to dive to the ground to avoid being shot, and a second officer returned fire, believing the first officer had been hit.
Harris then fled the scene on foot, but was eventually apprehended by a civilian who trapped him between a house and a fence and flagged down officers to make the arrest. A stolen firearm with a large capacity magazine was found next to Harris’s feet.
In a phone conversation with his mother from the Greene County Jail the next day, Harris admitted to shooting at the police officers and stated that he intended to shoot them if they tried to put their hands on him.
Harris was subsequently charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge that carries a maximum of 120 months’ imprisonment. He pleaded guilty to the charge on November 15, 2022, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Paragould Police Department and the FBI, with Assistant United States Attorney J. William Crow prosecuting the case for the United States.
Harris’s sentencing marks a significant victory for law enforcement in the fight against gun violence and violent crime. The sentencing highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions and the consequences of committing violent crimes.
Taj Harris, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Arkansas, 2021
Defendant: Taj Harris
Criminal Charges: Felon in Possession of a Firearm
City and State: Paragould, Arkansas
Date: February 7, 2021
Sentence: 10 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release
Related Federal Cases
- Peter Francis Stager, Assaulting Officers with a Dangerous Weapon, Arkansas 2023 · Michigan
- Antonio Wilkins, Shooting at Police, North Carolina 2023 · Arkansas
- Levi White, Excessive Force, Arkansas 2022 · Arkansas
- WA Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Police Officer, Washington DC, 2021 · Kentucky
- Pernell Sims, Shooting, Montana 2023 · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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