Suspect Jeremy Harris, Described As Alleged 'Serial Killer' By Police, Accused In 3 Dallas Murders Including SMU Student Jaden Urrea
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A man who police have described as an alleged "serial killer" is accused of four murders in North Texas, including the death of Southern Methodist University (SMU) student Jaden Urrea.
Jeremy Harris, 31, has been linked to at least four deaths -- three in Dallas and one in Celina -- after his arrest earlier this week. He was taken into custody after police found a victim, 60-year-old Blair Carter, dead inside a burning home in Celina on Wednesday.
Now, Harris has been charged with three other murders in Dallas, which police described as random killings.
Police said Urrea, 19, was found lying on a street with a gunshot wound at the intersection of South Harwood Street and Jackson Street at around 3 a.m. on Oct. 31. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Dallas Fire-Rescue.
Urrea's family said the 19-year-old had been at a Halloween party and was walking from the venue when the incident happened.
The other two murders happened on Nov. 14 within 30 minutes of each other, police said. Those victims were identified as 57-year-old Kenneth Jerome Hamilton and 36-year-old Adam Gautreau.
Hamilton's death happened just after 9 p.m. near South Beckley Avenue and Clarendon Drive, while Gautreau's happened about 30 minutes before at the intersection of Empire Central and N. Stemmons Freeway.
"In my opinion based on what we've seen so far, I believe that this is the definition of a serial killer. It's random, there is no known association between victims and the complainant," Dallas police Deputy Chief Reuben Ramirez said.
On Monday, Nov. 16, an apparent random driver was shot in East Dallas but survived. The next day, a man was shot in the arm in Prosper while he was in his truck near a grocery store. Harris was also connected to these violent crimes.
Denton police said Harris is also suspected in the "random shooting" of two 20-year-old women who were in a vehicle in the 2400 block of East University Drive on Nov. 17. Police said the two victims were driving when a vehicle pulled up beside them and began shooting into their vehicle. Both women were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities were able to link the cases with Harris' black Chevy SUV and with evidence found in his apartment. He was taken into custody at his apartment in Ellis County.
Harris is currently in Collin County jail on a $3 million bond.
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis released a statement on Harris' arrest:
"My office has been working closely with numerous area law enforcement agencies since Wednesday's murder in Celina and the subsequent arrest of Jeremy Rashad Harris for that crime. Harris is currently in the Collin County Jail on bonds totaling $3 million. We will continue to coordinate with all the involved agencies and jurisdictions to protect the public and see that justice is done. To respect the integrity of ongoing investigations, I will have no further comment at this time."