Marquise Harris

Marquise D. Harris was a 47-year-old man from the Denver, Colorado, area who was a father to six children. His life was marked by complexities, including past encounters with law enforcement. In 2015, he led Wyoming Highway Patrol on a high-speed chase before surrendering; at the time, he had outstanding felony warrants in Colorado. By 2020, Marquise and his brother, Dedrick D. Harris, had filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City and County of Denver and several police officers, alleging improper conduct during separate arrests. Despite these challenges, he remained connected to his family, and his unexpected death left his loved ones searching for answers.

In the morning hours of Thursday, May 5, 2022, a call about a shooting sent Denver police officers to the 8800 block of East 12th Avenue. The Denver Police Department first tweeted about the incident at 9:08 a.m., reporting that an adult male victim had been located and transported to a local hospital with injuries of an unknown extent. A few hours later, the department issued an update: the man had died from his injuries. The victim was soon identified as Marquise Harris. The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner later confirmed his death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound.

The investigation into the murder of Marquise Harris began immediately, handled by detectives from the Denver Police Department. In the weeks and months that followed, however, no arrests were made, and the department did not release any information about potential suspects. This silence was deeply concerning to Marquise’s brother, Dedrick, who grew frustrated with what he described as a lack of progress and poor communication from investigators.

Dedrick Harris publicly questioned whether the investigation was being slow-rolled because of the pending lawsuit he and his late brother had filed against the DPD. He told reporters that police had not been forthcoming with information and would not release the 911 call Marquise had made. The family felt they were being kept in the dark. In response to these concerns, a police spokesperson stated that the investigation was active and ongoing and encouraged anyone with information to come forward.

The department maintained its commitment to solving the case but also confirmed that some investigative details might be withheld from Dedrick Harris after he spoke to the media. A police representative explained this was a measure to protect the integrity of the ongoing homicide investigation, not a punitive action for his public statements.

As of the latest available reports from late 2022, the murder of Marquise Harris remains unsolved. No arrests have been announced, and no suspects have been publicly identified by the Denver Police Department. The civil rights lawsuit filed by the Harris brothers continued to move through the court system after Marquise's death, with legal proceedings documented into 2023. The family continues to await a breakthrough that could bring justice for Marquise. Investigators urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).