Dispatch: 'I put some water on my socks and tried to wipe up the blood. I wiped up as much blood as I could' [Updated]

After her son was shot and killed Sunday, Sept. 20, Kathryn Harris was so consumed with grief she did not eat for days.

“My arms and fingers are starting to take on a skeletal appearance,” she said. “I can’t eat and I can’t sleep. And I cry.”

Kevin Harris, a 21-year old black man, had been sitting in his parked car in front of a music studio on the 3300 block of West 118th Place in Inglewood when he was fatally wounded, authorities said.

His mother wept as she described the phone call that came that night from her son’s father. She spoke of her frantic trip to the studio where the aspiring music composer and producer had been shot several times shortly after 8 p.m.

“I put some water on my socks and tried to wipe up the blood. I wiped up as much blood as I could,” she said. “I got down on my hands and knees and used my hands like they were a broom to sweep up the glass.”

Inglewood Police Department officials have described the shooter as a possible gang member. Harris, however, was not involved in gangs and had no criminal history, said Inglewood police Det. Jose Becerra.

The night her son was killed, Kathryn Harris said, she knew something was wrong. She texted him and called him repeatedly and there was no response. Then, she said, she got the call from his father.

Harris was pronounced dead at the hospital about 40 minutes after the shooting. No witnesses have come forward and police have not named any suspects in his killing, authorities said.

“I was kind of on the verge of suicide,” his mother said. “But there’s no way I would do that because then I would never see God. I would never see my son.”

Kevin Harris, known to friends as Track Bully, learned to play the piano in a music class his freshman year at St. Bernard Catholic High School, said Jimmique Parsons, his best friend.

Parsons said the class taught Harris the basics of how to play, but his friend was soon learning to play popular songs by ear after hearing them on the radio. During his sophomore year in high school, Harris downloaded a music program that allowed him to compose, mix and loop basic beats, and from there he was hooked, Parsons said.

At first he would sample and mix songs from popular hip-hop artists such as Kanye West and Dr. Dre, but Parsons said he quickly moved to composing his own music, then mixing it and looping it digitally with other instruments.

“He would go into the studio, play around on the piano for an hour or so, then start recording…. Then he would find chords to bring in, then drums,” Parsons said. “It was amazing; he would start from scratch.”

Kathryn Harris said her son also played on his high school basketball team and regularly went to church. His favorite color was white, she said, adding that he was buried in a white suit.

After high school graduation Harris worked a number of odd jobs during the day and spent his nights in the studio, Parsons said. He worked at Urban Outfitters, Vons and eventually at a mattress store while at night the studio paid him to mix tracks for local artists.

He worked on a video with Lady G, a rapper from Atlanta, Parsons said. But Parsons said he mostly worked with local artists and on his own music.

[Updated Oct. 5: A previous version of this post incorrectly identified Lady G as a Jamaican DJ.]

Kathryn Harris said she had devoted her life to making sure her son did not fall into the wrong crowd. She sent him to Catholic middle and high schools, read him the Bible.

Over the course of a two-hour phone interview, she sobbed for three-quarters of the conversation. She was still at the cemetery, having just picked out the place in a mausoleum to bury her son.

She recalled a time when he was 2 years old and she took him to a coin-operated laundry. She said she gave him a 100-piece puzzle to keep him entertained and after a short period of time he told her: "Done, mommy, done."

She said she took him jet-skiing when he was 7, and later would accompany his school basketball team on trips to games. She said one of his favorite nicknames for her was "Mother of pearl."

"He used to text me 'goodnight mother of pearl,'" she said.

“He has no gang ties whatsoever, I raised him preppy,” she said. “He wanted people to be happy in general…. He saw good in everyone.”

She said she was always nervous about the area his studio was in and would stay up at night – sometimes into the early morning – until she heard him come home safe.

“They tell me God only give you as much as you can handle,” she said. “Well God must think I’m really strong.”

 —  Anthony Pesce

AJ - THE WALLS (pROD Track Bully)

Follow The Homicide Report on Twitter @latimeshomicide.

Photo: Kevin Harris Credit: Paul Parsons

Music: A sample of Kevin Harris' work, courtesy of his family.

Comments

[linda A]

I am so, so sorry for your loss. I feel your pain. He is such a good looking young man with a very bright future. May his soul rest in perfect peace. I also pray that you feel better about this huge loss. Take care my friend and God bless you.
From one devoted mother to another.

[Canyac Canjar]

Simply awful. why is it that LAPD cannot clean up the streets of L.A.?

I am feeling the grief of this mother thousands of miles away here in Wash. DC. I will keep her in my prayers.

[V Mathews]

No parent should have to bury their child. I am so sorry to have read about your loss. You both will be in my prayers.

And please for all of you reading this. Speak to these young men and convince them that this is madness. Black or brown, all of us need to live in the way god intended us to, as family regardless of our differences.

[Alexa Vaughn]

I love that you've got his music on here. But allude that a sample's available in the article cuz I almost skipped over it!

[Pastor Charles Williams]

Kevin produced a lovely track on my daughter's CD, and I wept when I read this. I am so saddened by the continual senseless violence that steals the lives of our promising young people. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[EC Hudson]

Peace to you, Kathryn, with prayers and hope for the life that Kevin would want you to lead.

[Peter]

My condolences to the family, such a terrible loss. The kid was doing the right thing and had a bright future ahead of him. He was Mrs. Harrison's life and to have his son taken like that is horrible. Rest in Peace Kevin.

[amom2]

I am so sorry Ms. Harris you have to go through this. I can barely type this as the tears are blurring my vision. I am also angry. This has to stop! Another young man with so much promise taken away. RIP Kevin Harris.

[Robert D. Flores]

I'm sorry for your loss ma'am. I will pray for you.

[Thea123]

What a beautiful young man in every way. I am so very sorry.

[Sherry]

I am so sorry for your loss, I worry daily about my own child! This world has become something for every Mother to worry about! I am praying for the family of this beautiful young man.

[Lisa]

Ms. Harris, I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your son. I do not know your family, but Kevin sounds like just a wonderful young man, the type whose loss hurts everyone whether they knew him personally or not.

I can't even imagine how you are feeling right now, but please know that many people - even those of us who do not know you - are holding you in their hearts, and hope for you to find the strength to go on. I wish there were something that I could do for you. If there is anything I can offer, whether it's listening or bringing a hot meal, please comment with an email address where I can reach you.

[syscom3]

Another fine young man who was on his way to becoming a valued and productive member of society, only to have it snuffed out for what?

Every reader of this blog who lives in these neighborhoods should remember what happened to her son and begin to hold account their elected leaders.

[SaveLA]

your family is in my prayers, we must clean up Inglewood and the rest of L.A. asap.

[jenn]

STOP THE KILLING!! When will this madness end? Ms. Harris may God comfort you and your family in your time of loss.

[fred]

How terribly sad. My condolences for the lost of your most talented son Kevin. With a daughter in music school back east, I can only wish your son had had the same opportunity to showcase and develop his talents, and to escape the madness that has terrorized our neighborhoods.

[L.A. Teacher]

There are no words to express the void the earth has just experienced with the departure of your son. May he rest in peace in a much better place than Los Angeles.

[Save Our Streets]

I am so sorry for your lost as I know and feel your pain and hurt. I lost my brother when he was 21years old and I have not recovered from that loss. You are a woman of God and I know that He will heal your pain. In order to get through this without loosing your sanity...please lean and trust in the Lord. It was 10 years ago that my brother was killed...and I am still hurting. May the peace of the Lord comfort you, guide you and give you strength.

[lrw]

I am so saddened by your loss, there are no words to express the hopeless feeling I get when I read that another beautiful young person has been gunned down for nothing in the streets of LA. We need to get rid of the guns and stop the violence. You and your talented son will be in my prayers and thoughts for a long time to come. I hope you will find some peace, and Kevin Harris sounds like he was a wonderful loving son.

[fredyt3]

Mrs. Harris and family -
Words cannot comfort you and Kevin's loss will always be on your mind but keep the faith and know that his life was not in vain.

[Lisa P]

This is very sad. I offer my condolences to the mother of this talented young man. I would like to put out a thought: someone walking the streets right now is a stone cold killer. That person or persons is still free. I can't believe that there is not someone out there who knows the identity of the killer. Is it someone you know? We need to stop protecting the killers in our midst. Whether he is your son, your brother, your nephew, your neighbor, do what you must do. Call the police! This person must be brought to justice so that the young man's mother can have some semblance of peace.

[jojo]

so sad...
God grant you Peace Mrs. Harris....

[Bobie]

Ms. Harris, I don't know you or your son, but I want to send my deepest condolences. So unfortunate that a human being can be taken in such a ruthless manner with no consideration to the life they live and the family they go home to. Murderers forget that they not only kill the victim, but their family as well. May God Bless You

[Jane Bryant]

This makes me very sad too... from a distance here in TX - I am a Californian though - and so sad. I know the feeling of waiting up till the kids come in, can understand waiting till you know they are in and safe. What a terrible shame Mrs Harris your son was killed. I am so sorry.

[Dan]

My condolences to the Harris family. He looks like he was a really nice young man with a future snuffed for no good reason. Stop the killing!

[susan]

What a heartbreaking story. I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved son, Kevin. It is very sad that such a wonderful life has been ended for no reason.

I hope that you are able to find some peace Mrs. Harris.

with love,

susan

[Jan]

Dear, precious mother of Kevin,

God's Angels are surrounding you and your loved ones as you all grieve the worst loss any mother could imagine. You are a wonderful mother, and Kevin adored you. There is nothing you could have done to have stopped the monsters who took the life of your beloved boy. Even if you had attached yourself to his side everywhere he went, it still would have happened because there is evil in the world, and we can't predict when it will strike. I hope you find comfort in the knowledge that Kevin's passing will not have been in vain. This story has got to be told all over the country, all over the world. It's the only way to get the horrid reality across to our lawmakers. I know for sure that Kevin is in Heaven and wants you to be okay. He doesn't want anything to happen to you. You are loved. You will one day be an enormous comfort to other parents in the same situation....but right now, just let your loved ones support and bolster you. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

[JohBurgJen]

Dear Mrs. Harris,
There are stars whose light only reaches the earth long after they have fallen apart.
There are people whose remembrance gives light in this world, long after they have passed away.
This light shines in the darkest night on the road we must follow.
May the Lord give you strength and comfort you as you grieve. May the Lord shine his loving countenance on you and grant you peace.

[jayteereal]

This story just breaks my heart, because this kid was doing something positive with his life, and again here came one of those evil coward gangbangers and took his life, I certainly pray that god will comfort his grieving mother, because this hurt doesn't just last a month or two it last forever, and she will grieve this lost for the rest of her life. If anyone know or have any info that could help bring justice to his mother, something that she and her son really deserve I ask you to Please call WeTip @ 800-78-CRIME (27463) you could stay anonymous and help bring justice to this family

[Elizabeth A]

God bless you and your son forever. From Oakland, California, we pray that your family finds peace. We pray and pray and pray....

[DR]

Another senseless killing and one more mother with her heart broken with grief. I wonder when will enough people of all races and creeds will band together and say to these takers of life ENOUGH!!! No more spilled blood of our loved ones.
My prayers go out to this young mans family.

[Anna]

This is horrible. Just tragic. My mother lost my brother at the age of 23
So i know the grief she and the rest of the family must be feeling,
i will keep the mother and family in my deepest prayers.

[Christopher Eaton]

I was feeling bad tonight because the Dodgers lost again and I haven't gotten enough sleep this week.

This story slapped me in the face and helped to put things into perspective for me. Kathryn Harris' loss IS devastating. Nothing matters more than the well-being of our children. Kathryn, I know that your son is an angel with God now, in his care. My heart truly goes out to you and you're in my prayers.

[Smith Fam]

God Bless you!!
Yes, of course God has great plans for your future.
Seek out his will for your life.
He is using you as a vessel.
Be strengthened and walk in truth and honor.

[Cleveland]

I have two sons ages four (4) and three (3).

I can not even begin to imagine the pain, of an unfinished life, the pain of shattered dreams in a night.

Thank God for Heaven, it has been said that Heaven is a place of Justice, where all the wrongs of this earth with be made right.

Our prayers are for the family.

[Daniel Hernandez]

Ms. Harris, I'm so sorry for your loss. Condolences from my family to yours.

[Anthony David]

Another tragedy! I am so angered and sad to see another young black man fall victim to black on black violence. We don't have to worry about the "man" getting us, we're destroying ourselves--and with little to no remorse, unless the killer is caught. But I tell you, with 24-hour news media and the internet so prevalent, this mayhem going on with our brothers in Chicago, these "local" stories are gaining "national" attention. It's getting harder and harder for suspects to live in secrecy--they run the chance of being headline news on Fox or CNN. I applaud the Times for putting Kevin's story on its front page. Hopefully, our neighborhoods will get additional focus so that we can clean up this problem - not just police/law-enforcement solutions but education, job opportunities, and mentorship. But until this perfect world arrives, "please just simply top the killing!"

[Albert Carrillo]

RIP Kevin Harris

[Sonia]

I think they either confused Kevin ro someone was jealous of him aspiring. This is rediculous how there are some people can just go around shooting people becuase they don't like them. You know what I wonder? I wonder what will happen when the people that kill die and have to suffer in the afterlife. I wonder what will happen when they are in hell and are crying for mercy like little babies asking for mommy. That is when they need to show their toughness. They are going to need to pray and repent, because what awaits them it nothing compared to the evil here on earth.

[La huera]

I think they either confused Kevin ro someone was jealous of him aspiring. This is rediculous how there are some people can just go around shooting people becuase they don't like them. You know what I wonder? I wonder what will happen when the people that kill die and have to suffer in the afterlife. I wonder what will happen when they are in hell and are crying for mercy like little babies asking for mommy. That is when they need to show their toughness. They are going to need to pray and repent, because what awaits them it nothing compared to the evil here on earth.

[Barbara]

Kathryn, it is evident that Kevin had a loving and nurturing guardian angel here on earth. As a loving mother you provided Kevin with the opportunities to enrich his education and allowed him to experience more out of life. If only other mother's took the time to love and nurture as you did would this cycle of violence end. Now Kathryn you have an angel to guide you in your role of Mother of Pearl(s), to women who could learn from your fine example of unconditional mothering. I am touched by your loss.

[Kevin Will Never Be Forgotten]

I was blessed to have known Kevin and his mother and father. Kevin was everything to his mom. Please, anyone with amy information, please come forward or simply leave a message with the police department.

The family is trying to give Kevin a proper burial. Donations of any size can be sent, called into or delivered to

Inglewood Park Cemetery
720 E. Florence Ave
Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 412-6500

Re: Kevin Robert Harris II
Westminster Abbey H-91

THANK YOU!

[Robert Smith]

"why is it that LAPD cannot clean up the streets of L.A.?"

Better question: Why is the public so bloody ignorant about the work law enforcement?

Do you REALLY think any police agency can stop a crime before it occurs, or control the impulses of every criminal in this city? Why would you ever place blame on law enforcement, instead of the perpetrator of the crime? Everybody loves to criticize the police...except at the exact moment you need them the most, when no one else in the world will rush to your aid.

[syscom3]

Anthony David, just who is "the man" that you referred to?

[Mary K.]

How sad. His son had a John Legend sound to it. His mother should be so proud of her son, damn gangs. God Bless you and your family.

[Ernie Sandoval]

Just another well-deserved tragedy due to the blatant failure of society to make people accountable. Without gun control and easy access to handguns, anti-social drug-trafficking gangbangers with no emotions, ethics, or morals, the lure of drug money, and worst of all - the biggest failure we have provided to criminals - lack of public execution for murder, drug trafficking, and any other criminal activity that results in violence harming innocent people. We have already shown criminals there is no penalty for murdering someone, so they do it. Watching a murderer shot dead on national television by firing squad would send a whole differnet message and maybe the the carnage would subside. Until then, until society DOES something like shirk the embrace of indifference and apathy, America will stand ankle deep in the blood of innocents. Instead of evolving into a civilized society of courage, to stand firm on our collective convictions, we have become cowards and nothing less than pretentious savages.

[Ty Ross]

This sickens me, another productive member of society gunned down. May he rest in peace and I hope not a day goes by that the shooter doesn't think about this.

[Dano50]

A promising young man with a future whose life was snuffed out by another young man with no future, no vision, no life, no humanity - a symbol of the self destruction of a community of people freed from slavery but not from the effects.

May the peoples of color turn away from the drugs, the guns, the culture of negativity, defeat and violence that define many in those communities, and turn toward the values of family, community, success and achievement in education, business and life and in ultimately love and well being.

All people of all colors feel your loss Mrs. Harris. It is our loss too.

[Alesia]

May the Lord comfort you, i know it's hard! I have a 21 yr. old and you try and do your best to train them and teach them to respect life and other peoples property, and then some knucklehead comes and take all of that away from you. I pray that whoever did this will never have a peaceful sleep, I pray that your baby Kevin's face will stay on their conscience until they have to walk into that police station and give themselves up. Yes, I said baby, because no matter how old they are, they are still a mothers baby :)

God bless you, from one Harris family to another.

[brian]

Yes, you are one strong mother. I am sorry for the lost of your son. No parent deserves to loose their child through violence and ignorance. I am sure you will see your son, when the day comes. Keep the faith, and hold on to God's unchanging love. I have been trying to get my story to the world, because it has the power to save some. However, no one in the city is allowing me to atleast speak to our young black men. wow! www.drugfreedreams.com