Shandell Harris was a 30-year-old Black woman from Miami, Florida, remembered by family as humble, happy and a devoted mother with political aspirations of one day becoming a Miami-Dade commissioner. The violence that ended her life began on Saturday, April 2, 2022, after she confronted her husband, 45-year-old Carl Monty Watts Jr., about alleged infidelity and told him she wanted a divorce. Police say Watts punched her, took a kitchen knife and stabbed her six times in the arm, hand and thigh, then threatened to kill himself. Harris escaped to her mother’s house and police were called, but Watts drove away before he could be detained.

The following day Harris went with her mother and 12-year-old daughter to a community center for the child’s swim lesson. Watts located them on the pool deck, offered money to drop the earlier incident and, after Harris refused, pulled a gun. Witnesses heard multiple gunshots; police say Watts chased Harris, shot her multiple times and continued firing after she collapsed until his ammunition was spent. He was detained by private security and arrested; he was charged with second-degree murder and pleaded not guilty. As of April 2022, the case was proceeding through the court system.

Does anyone who knew Shandell or was at the community center that day have information that could help investigators or clarify the timeline?