La'Quan Kalief Harris

Do you know who murdered La'Quan?
La'Quan Kalief Harris, known affectionately as "Quan," was a young Black man remembered for his charming smile and for being a loving presence in the lives of his family. At 20 years old, he was deeply connected to his community in Richmond, Virginia. His life was tragically cut short, leaving behind his mother, Monica Harris, a sister, Laketa, and a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother, Burnetta Harris and Lavern Webster. He was preceded in death by his father, Leroy Bailey. In the years since his death, his family has remembered him in memorial notices, with one tribute reading, "Sadly missed along life's way / Quietly remembered every day. / No longer in my life to share: / But in my heart Quan you are always there."

The summer night of Wednesday, July 13, 2011, turned fatal in Richmond’s Westover Hills neighborhood. At approximately 10:30 p.m., the sound of gunfire broke the quiet on the 400 block of Westover Hills Boulevard, a residential street lined with trees and brick homes just south of the James River. When Richmond Police Department officers responded to calls about a person being shot, they made a grim discovery. La'Quan Harris was found lying on the sidewalk, having sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

The initial investigation into La'Quan's murder yielded few answers. Detectives canvassed the Southside Richmond neighborhood for witnesses and evidence, but the circumstances surrounding the shooting remained shrouded in mystery. No information about a possible motive or any potential suspects was immediately released to the public. As the investigation progressed, the trail seemed to grow cold, with no credible leads emerging to point detectives toward the person or people responsible for taking La'Quan's life.

In the more than a decade that has passed, the case has remained open and unsolved, a painful reality for a family still waiting for justice. La'Quan's name is listed among the cold case homicides on the Virginia State Police website and with the Richmond Police Department. These digital files serve as a somber testament to a life ended too soon and a puzzle that investigators have yet to piece together. The case is a stark reminder of the gun violence that has affected numerous families in the city.

A funeral service for La'Quan was held on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at First Union Baptist Church, and he was laid to rest in Maury Cemetery. His obituary noted he was survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and devoted friends, a testament to the many lives he touched in his short time. One friend wrote in his guest book, "My home was your home, the brother Justin never had, life here will never be the same for us. You ran the race, finished the course and kept the faith."

As of late 2026, the murder of La'Quan Kalief Harris remains an active but unsolved investigation with the Richmond Police Department. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The quest for answers continues, fueled by the hope that someone will come forward with the information needed to bring closure to his loved ones. The Richmond Police Department urges anyone with information about this case to contact them. Detective/Sgt. George Wade is listed as the contact for the case at (804) 646-6741. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.