Winnie Harris, 65, was a long‑time resident of Holly Street in Powelton, West Philadelphia and the executive director of UC Green. Known for founding the Holly Street Neighbors Community Garden and for planting and caring for trees in the neighborhood, she lived on that block for about four decades.

In the early morning of February 2, 2017, two men forced entry into the home on the 300 block of North Holly Street, apparently targeting a different house. They entered Harris’s house instead; when she confronted them she was shot multiple times. Her body was found by police on the evening of February 3, 2017, in a second‑floor bedroom.

Surveillance images of two men circulated as the case remained unsolved for months. Arrests followed: Nelson Giddings was taken into custody in October 2017, Isaiah Reels was arrested the next month, and a third person, Laukesha McGruder, was later identified and arrested. Giddings admitted he shot Harris after she tried to defend herself with a bat; he was sentenced in June 2019 to 35 to 70 years. Reels pleaded guilty to third‑degree murder and was awaiting sentencing.