Highland Springs student dies in overnight shooting
An 18-year-old Highland Springs High School student who may have been pregnant was fatally shot last night, Henrico County police said today.
Wazira Harris, a senior, was shot during a "large disorderly situation" in the 300 block of East Beal Street in Highland Springs.
She died after being taken by a private vehicle to Richmond Community Hospital, said Henrico police Lt. Greg Dillard.
Dillard said police were called to East Beal Street about 9:15 p.m. to investigate a fight. Gunshots rang out during the disturbance, he said.
The crowd scattered when officers arrived, Dillard said, and police later learned that a victim had been transported to Richmond Community Hospital. The girl had been at the disturbance scene earlier, he said.
Dillard said the victim may have been pregnant, but authorities are awaiting confirmation.
Dillard said he didn't know the circumstances of last night's disturbance or how many people were involved.
The investigation is continuing.Check back at TimesDispatch.com for more details, and see tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.
-- Mark Bowes
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Reader Reactions
Dixie Girl, there is not one word in this entire article relating to a racial issue. Your post contains double the amount of words in it than the article and you are the only one referring to anything regarding race. Also, these apartments on East Beal Street are not Government Subsidized. This area is not considered a “housing project”. If your parents only live one block over in their well kept home and neighborhood do you not have the opportunity to visit them often and could this be the reason why you are misinformed? Maybe stepping out to pay them a visit would be a better use of your time. I used to live in these same apartments but now live in the Far West End. We have the same issues over here. It doesn’t matter what color you are or how much your mortgage payment is.
I agree Sister Valerie! God Bless the children & we must get out & reach them!!! It takes a village indeed. Growing up in Sandston & attending HSHS many years ago, this upsets me very much for the community. As someone said in an earlier comment, thre are Blacks & Whites living peacefully side by side, and trouble in that community of this nature is not a common thing. SOMEONE KNOWS WHO DID THIS, IN A CROWD THERE HAS GOT TO BE AT LEAST 1 WITNESS, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND DO THE RIGHT THING!!!
God Bless these young victims & their families…..
I used to work at the apartment complex where this occurred and it is not government subsidized. It was, once, but the management ended that about a decade ago. When I worked there, the people that lived there were working class families of all diffferent races. Since it is so close to the high school, there seemed to be a lot of high school aged children living there, many of which were involved in athletics, the marching band and whatnot. This is not the ghetto, and this incident does not represent everyone who lives there.
Its a shame that young people resort to guns to solve their problems today. Maybe when this country starts to get serious about gun control, the senseless deaths will decrease. Gun control is a subject of much debate but I am sure that everyone can agree that guns are too readily available to anyone. I pray for this young lady and her family.
Its a shame that the police always complain about people not witnessing crimes, but you never hear them talk about the lack of protection for those who come forward. Would you tell something if your whole family was put in danger because of what you told?
I lived on E Beal St for a little over a year and in Highland Springs for 6 years. These types of crimes are uncommon in this area. It scary knowing this happened so close to the high school. Hopefully this girl had some real true friends who witnessed this and are willing to come forward to identify her killer and her family can see that justice is served. My heart goes out to her family…this is such a tragic situation, her being so young and possibly pregnant.
It is difficult to pinpoint the racial make up of any area of Highland Springs, because it is one of the few places left around Richmond where people of all colors live side by side.
The 300 block of East Beal St. is Government subsidized apartments, but my parents live one block away on a tree lined block of well kept homes where all of their (mostly elderly) neighbors have lived peacefully most of their lives.
It really is sad that race even has to be brought into this story. The real story, as mentioned before, is whether or not any of the “large crowd” of people will step up to the plate to help police catch the killer and get him off of the street, no matter what color he/she is or which side of town he/she is from!
I don’t have a solution to the continuing problem of crime in these housing projects, but my gut tells me it has more to do with the breakdown of the traditional family as encouraged for years by government programs that reward unwed mothers with bigger paychecks for each child and fail to force deadbeat Dads to support their families…
J C Watts put it this way…
“First, we can help our country by bringing back the knowledge, the ancient wisdom, that we’re nothing without our spiritual, traditional and family values.“
I just hope with the large crowd they can identify the killer. Nothing burns me up more than all the people in Richmond who complain about the crime and the police who do nothing, etc., but when it comes time for a witness, no one talks. No one ever sees a thing. A lot of cowards are out and about in the Richmond area and I am not even talking about the criminals. By not speaking up, you empower the bad guys and make them stronger. Those who witness a crime and don’t come forward are just as guilty as the perps.
Im sorry I had a few typos in my first post!!!..But you all get what I am saying…My Godmother is very torn up about Wazira’s death and possibly her unborn baby..Its sad I tell you sad. My Condolences go out to Wazira’s family and close friend R.I.P BabyGirl You will be missed:(
Sur5vor - This did not happen in Richmond. It was Highland Springs on Beal Street which is several miles outside of Richmond. I grew up near that area, even went trick or treating there as a child where my aunt and uncle lived. I don’t recall reading what race these people were and I don’t believe that particular area is pre-dominantly black. No matter the race, it is an unforgivable crime. Why were they carrying guns to start with. For protection? Was the victim armed? Were all these people black, white, hispanic? Were they a mixed group? What the devil difference does it make.
A human life is over at way too young an age. This is to be mourned, not scourned. I’m not sure of your intent in your post, whether it is being condescending towards black and their predominance in certain areas or if they don’t get justice in court. I can’t answer to the second part, but historically that appears to be true, I’m no expert.
These types of news reports are heartbreaking nonetheless. As a parent, my heart breaks for Wazira Harris’ family. That’s right, the victim has a name.
A large disorderly situation. Does this mean a great many people had gathered and someone didn’t like what someone else said about them, so out comes the guns? Only cowards pull this kind of crap and now a very young woman possibly pregnant is dead. And for WHAT? May the shooter get exactly what is coming to them. Life without parole. Someone in that crowd knows who did this, let’s see if they have the guts to come forward and be a hero for that grieving family to see justice served.
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