On August 28, 2022, 37-year-old Russell Lee Harris of Whitmore, California, was found dead of a gunshot wound in the 31000 block of Whitmore Road. Deputies from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office discovered his body after receiving reports of a shooting and opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Investigators identified 29-year-old Christian Daniel Wilding of Shasta County as the primary suspect. Officials said Harris and Wilding were familiar with each other, though the exact nature of their relationship and a motive were not detailed. Wilding was stopped by Redding police with help from the California Highway Patrol, booked into the Shasta County Jail on suspicion of murder, and held with bail set at $1 million. An arraignment in Shasta County Superior Court was scheduled and detectives described the inquiry as ongoing.

If anyone has information about the shooting or knew Harris and where he spent time, please contact the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.