Nov 17, 2008 6:34 pm US/Eastern
2 Suspects In Harris' Murder Are Denied Bail
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of former City Councilman Ken Harris.
CBS
The two men arrested and charged in the fatal shooting of former Baltimore City Councilman Kenneth Harris have been denied bail.
Mike Hellgren reports both men were arrested Friday.
"Today we can all start to reclaim a bit of our lives and start to rebuild," said Keith Covington, The Haven owner. "I will definitely testify. I have no problems with that. It's my duty to do that."
They can rebuild after lives were shattered the night former Baltimore City Councilman Ken Harris was murdered outside The Haven jazz club.
That changed on Friday when police arrested Charles McGaney, 19, and Gary Collins, 20, who spit at reporters as police led him to a patrol van.
The suspects face 33 charges between them, including weapons, assault and armed robbery charges. It's unknown whether the state's attorney will ask for the death penalty.
Both suspects have juvenile records and live with family members. McGaney was recently employed at an area grocery store. Collins is the father of a toddler and is unemployed.
Collins' attorney says her client denies the charges against him, and she's confident he'll get a fair trial. She is asking for a gag order in the case, though, so prosecutors and police can't talk to the media.
"From other high-profile cases I've handled, you guys are doing your job. I respect that, but there's misinformation that gets out," said Jan Bledsoe, Collins' attorney.
Police say these arrests took hard work.
"We've had forensic evidence from the very beginning, and we developed suspects in this case stretching back several weeks," said Fred Bealefeld, Baltimore City Police Commissioner. "This is a beginning in terms of making arrests and tracking down those responsible."
Investigators say DNA evidence was key in the arrest of McGaney at his home just a few blocks away from the murder scene.
The DNA came from saliva inside a mask worn by each of the suspects. It matched McGaney's profile in state DNA databases that also catalog his long criminal record.
In August, McGaney pleaded guilty to firearms possession. Collins is waiting to be tried on drug dealing and gun charges.
Police say even more people could be involved with the murder in addition to the third person in the surveillance video from the night it happened.
"Right now, we're going to say we are looking for multiples possibly," said Troy Harris, Baltimore City Police.
Part of the rebuilding process is to have the guilty pay. Friends and family are ready to move on.
"I stand here on behalf of the Harris family when I say I want justice to prevail," said Annette Harris, Ken Harris' widow.
"If they are guilty, I'd like for them to get a rather stiff sentence. We need to stop being so soft on these criminals. Their crimes are hurting the entire city and the state, and we are hurting each other," said Charles Faison, The Haven patron.
"They will have to pay and we have to send the kind of message, particularly to our young people, that this is unacceptable and this is something that they are not gonna get away with," said Mayor Sheila Dixon.
Ken Harris served on the Baltimore City Council for eight years. He also ran for City Council president.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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