2nd Tacoma Homicide of 2022: Earl Harris III

On the evening of January 17, 2022, 53-year-old Earl Harris III was hanging out with a couple of friends at his house in the 800 block of South Sheridan Street in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood when there was a knock at the door. Upon opening the door, a short 34-year-old man began beating Earl. According to Earl’s friends, the man was Earl’s drug dealer and Earl had a habit of not paying the man. Before his friends could get involved the short man pushed Earl against the wall, pulled out a pistol from his waistband and began shooting hitting Earl in the torso and hands.

Earl’s friends ran when they saw the gun. The man who shot Earl left, tossing the gun into a random trashcan. Earl called 9-1-1. First responders arrived near 6:00pm and took him to a local hospital where he later died. The man who shot Earl was arrested a couple of weeks later and charged with Earl’s murder. Earl Harris III is the second Tacoma homicide of 2022.

All too often murders like this are overlooked as simply ‘drug killings’, but this ignores the humanity of the people involved and the impact their lives and deaths had on their friends and family.

Earl was a father of three sons and grandfather. He was active in his church. He worked as a Network Engineer, working for Microsoft at one point. He had an easygoing and friendly demeanor. Always happy to host family or friends, he was also known as a good cook. Earl was a relaxed presence, though he could get excited when serving as Worship Leader. He was competitive and loved competitions whether in sport or in card games. He is missed by his family and friends.

As always, the comment section is reserved for those who knew and loved Earl and want to share thoughts and memories of Earl.

- Jack

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