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NEW INFO: Shooting Suspect Dies Save Email Print
Posted: 5:57 PM May 11, 2008
 Last Updated: 5:56 PM May 12, 2008
 Reporter: Susan Nicholas
Email Address: susan.nicholas@wsaz.com
263 comments Map
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A nursing supervisor at Cabell Huntington Hospital confirmed to WSAZ.com that Rashawn Harless died Monday afternoon. He was the man shot by police late Sunday during a chase near 7th Avenue.

Sunday, neighbors told WSAZ.com that some customers at the Speedway on Hal Greer Boulevard spotted Rashawn Harless with a gun. Two MUPD officers were nearby and customers told them about Harless.

Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook says just before 5pm Sunday, the MUPD officers and some Huntington Police officers found Harless in the 1500 block of 7th Avenue carrying a gun. A chase started and Harless ran toward the train tracks. He ducked behind a trash dumpster and began firing shots at the officers. Chief Holbrook says MUPD officers returned fire toward Harless.

The Chief says HPD SWAT officers were called in as well as other local agencies to help in the situation. Neighbors and media were asked to move about a block away for safety reasons.

After nearly two hours, police got close enough to Harless to see he had a gunshot wound to his head. An ambulance waiting a block away moved in and took Harless to Cabell Huntington Hospital.
Both MUPD officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, a standard procedure following an officer involved in a shooting.

Court records show that Huntington Police arrested Harless last Wednesday during a city wide drug sweep. Harless was charged with possesion of a controlled substance. On Friday, he was released from jail on $5000 bond.
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Posted by: Mike on Jun 16, 2008 at 07:19 PM
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Rashawn and the officers involved in the shooting as well.....people you have to realize that the last thing an officer wants to do is take a life......no officer wakes up in the morning and says "I want to shoot a 19 yr old young man in the head today" it is tragic what happended. obviously rashawn lived by the streets and consequently died by the street life....our lord and savior loved him as much as anyone else.....we need to get to the real root of the problem because tragically there are Rashawn like deaths everyday....Father forgive us for we not what we do.....GOD BLESS ALL
Posted by: one of many friends on Jun 3, 2008 at 08:43 AM
yea you should regret what you say. if one of your family members got in trouble you wouldnt want a hole bunch of nobodys like you with no life just on the internet judging him and they didnt even know him. get a life or a job or something. go talk about your usless family problems.
Posted by: Rachael on May 27, 2008 at 01:08 PM
First off i just wanted to say KAYLA & KAMARI my heart goes out to you both!!! Now i just want to say that all you people on here that are saying all these bad things about Rashawn need to grown up! You people saying he was such a bad peoson cause he did drugs and he did this and he did that well you know what no one is this world is perfect!!! If you think you are or your kids are then you are crazy!!! This just makes me so angry when i read some of these comments you people left and some of the hurtful things some of you people said! Well R.I.P. Rashawn and again my heart goes out to all of your family and friends!!!!!!
Posted by: alexis williams nd jhamaia murphy on May 22, 2008 at 01:53 PM
♥♥♥♥we r both srry that this happened to him. I was his cuzo i miss him very much nd i hope tha our whole family can feel better because i rlly do understand nd i hope kamri has a goo life to ebven though she has to live it without her wonderful daddy nd i dont believe he shot eitha so whoeva said dat he did nd whoeva encoraged the police needs to go to hell.R.I.P. RASHAWN HARLESS...I MISS U CUZO.♥♥♥♥ILY
Posted by: Regretlol on May 21, 2008 at 03:09 PM
Nobody on here is going to regret what they are saying. I can tell by your weak arguements that you don't truely believe he was a good law abiding citizen. You want to change opinions of Rashawn? Your opinion has nothing to do with it. The facts are all the matters. He had the gun. He shot at the police and he is now dead. That is the facts. Nobody cares about Rashawn. Dozens more will take his place on the streets.
Posted by: Aussie on May 21, 2008 at 04:00 AM
When someone is placed in jail, it is not so that they can recieve therapy. Who cares why he had a gun, he had one and he shouldn't have. Let's say that he didn't shoot first. Why was he running? My heart goes out to his family because they where not the ones who went out with a gun shooting at police. They do not deserve the heartbreak they are forced to deal with now. However, I think that this just goes to show that he should have been in some sort of hospital. By the way, you can not be turned down for treatment when you can prove that it is neccessary, so he more than likely never tried to seek professional help. This situation is unfortunate, however I do not think that the police are to blame, they where only doing there job. Would his friends and family feel better if he had killed a bystander, he could have killed a small child who really did have the rest of their life ahead of them and who's only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time with a criminal.
Posted by: one of many freinds on May 17, 2008 at 10:04 AM
i think all you people are rude and should regret what you are saying. yea he had a gun but you have no idea what for. what if he felt threatend by someone or the area and felt safer wit one or like they said before you cant trust the police anyways. and the jail keeps letting people out without treating them for there problems. how are you just going to lock someone up and expect them to get better on there own. if they felt he had problems why didnt they treat him. No they let him lose and a couple days later find an excuse to kill him. and im not racist but you know if it was a white man it would have not went down like that. they wouldnt have felt threatend by him. but scared that the blackman might do something. how long do you think he had that gun? when do you think he found out about drug?.i beat he prolly had that gun for a while and all teens experiment wit drugs(even yours). he has not done anything wrong before that what makes them think he was just going to go out killing
Posted by: Jason on May 16, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Janet!!! You're going to move to Detroit or Columbus where it's safe, huh? Check the crime rate, honey. It doesn't get much safer than small town, simple minded West Virginia. If the "hard core crime" is too much for you to handle here, you'll not be able to handle it ANYWHERE!
Posted by: anon on May 15, 2008 at 09:18 PM
I do feel sorry for the family...especially the sweet baby who will never know her father. I cannot imagine that the police would shoot him if he was not a threat to the safety of others. I think that he showed all of the signs of being in trouble emotionally though...he had been recently arrested for drugs...needed psychological help...and they did try to seek it. So..if he had a gun...chances are he was either suicidal or homicidal. He could have taken the lives of many of the innocent officers or bystanders...and how sad would that be for all of their families? People need to be accountable for their actions...you go out and start firing shots...you deserve to be stopped at all cost. It is sad that there are people who are actually blaming the police for trying to save their own lives and the lives of other residents. Their job is to keep HTN safe. He was the one who had the gun..and no one forced him to trot around town with it. Sorry to the family..My prayers are with you.
Posted by: Tim on May 15, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Well, I don't know why I am bothering to comment. Because I can't change people's opinions. But I will say that if you had met Rashawn once, you would have had only good things to say about him. I also went to middle school and graduated with him. You folks shouldn't say he deserved it, because the simple fact is, the majority have no idea who he was. I don't know what happened, and I can almost guarantee nobody who has posted here, was there at the time. Don't always believe everything you hear, and don't be so quick to deal out judgment.
Posted by: Hillary Shay♥♥♥ on May 15, 2008 at 06:22 PM
Ok first of all some of you are just cold hearted to sit and say some of the things your sayin i mean come on! if it was a member of your family or a friend you wouldn't want people talkin bout it ! he did not deserve to die regardless of wat any of you all say ! Yeah he may have done some things he shouldn't have but come on now he is human WE ALL make mistakes! But he was still a person in this world that mattered maybe not to you but to his family! he has a BEAUTIFUL baby girl that is only a few months old now that will have to grow up with out a dad! Now does she deserve that? i think not! He also had a wonderful wife that loved him with her heart and soul and now she dosen't have her husband! he has family, and friends that will miss him and they love him dearly! You need to realize just because he did something wrong didn't mean he deserved to loose his life! Put yourself in his families shoes! how do you think they feel? and wat you think they will feel when they read ur comment?
Posted by: J on May 15, 2008 at 03:11 PM
You know my heart does go out to this family. Stop making excuses for what has been done. He had a gun. There are people on here making posts who have members of their own family who have beaten women, brandished weapons, used and sold drugs, had the swat team called on them, stabben a man in the throat. This man is 36 years old and has still not been forced be accountable for his actions. My point is that to those of you making excuses for this boy how would you feel if you had your child in your car or outside playing and saw him with a weapon knowing he was involved in drug use?
Posted by: Peter on May 15, 2008 at 09:52 AM
To Kayla & Kamari: I am very sorry for your loss, and my prayers are with you. To MIKE: The HPD MUST be busy doing something, they sure have made you upset in the past.....otherwise you wouldn't be posting comments on almost EVERY story about them. And calling them donut gang is simply ignorant. The police officers who patrol my neighborhood do an exceptional job; one which offers little compensation and even fewer "thanks". Perhaps you, MIKE, should find something more constructive to do besides eating donuts behind the computer, e-griping about our police department.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 15, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Kayla- I am so sorry for your loss. I am pregnant right now and i couldnt imagine raising my child without a father because of some stupid mistake on police forces. I am truly sorry and may God be with you and your little girl..
Posted by: KellyMarie on May 15, 2008 at 08:40 AM
just like his baby mom said... he was a thoughtful, and caring man. i knew rashawn since 8th grade. i dont believe either that he shot first. and people on here, the news and in the news paper are trying to make it look like he was gonna rob the speedway. Rashawn is not that stupid. i lived around him. if you seen where he lived, everyone around there carries a gun. an just because someone says something, they want to make a big deal out of it like they never heard of such a thing. but thats what people in huntington do. they carry guns. so if you dont like guns, get out of huntington...
Posted by: Amanda on May 15, 2008 at 06:49 AM
Ray Ray, i love and miss you so much. i wish you were still here. its so hard knowing that your not. but i know your up in heaven looking down on all of us. your prolly up there with chris and bobby having a big party.. save me a stop up there. see you when its my time. i love you ray ray.
Posted by: wondering on May 15, 2008 at 06:17 AM
Why was he carrying a gun and why did he run if he was such a nice and polite person...and why did he get arrested the week before???
Posted by: Bob on May 15, 2008 at 12:13 AM
Blah Blah Blah, Why did the cops shoot, why this and why that. I have friends and family in law enforcement and they are trained by guide lines set forth by state and federal governments on lethal force. Why didnt they spray him or use a taser. Well lets see, its a one plus scenerio that says you can use force one step higher than your threat. Um, suspect with gun firing at police!!! Hmmm, officer only has one choice, his gun. They dont have a higher option. If you dont like the rules police have to go by then take your opinion to Charleston the next time the Legislation is in and let them know. The police dont make the law they only enforce it. Period. The lawmakers make the law and that who has to change it. So cry to them and stop bashing the men and women who protect your streets. People want to know why when they call for the cops it takes forever for them to get there. Well, it takes numerous cops to patrol a city, but when you the citizen dont tell your city council then shut up.
Posted by: KAYLA & KAMARI on May 14, 2008 at 11:41 PM
♥♥♥YOU PEOPLE ARE UNBELIEVEBALE. MY DAUGHTER KAMARI WILL HAVE TO LIVE THE REST OF HER LIFE WITHOUT HER DADDY. SHE ONLY GOT TO SPEND 3 MONTHS WITH HIM.HE WAS SO GOOD TO HER AND ME. I KNOW THE GOODNESS IN HIM. MY FIRST MOTHERS DAY WAS MY WORST. HIS MOTHER AND SISTER ARE SO TORN UP OVER THIS.CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH? MY BABY DID SEEK HELP AND WAS TURNED DOWN. THE AUTOPSY CONFIRMED IT WAS NOT SELF INFLICTED---BUT HOMICIDE FROM THE POLICE. I HONESTLY BELIEVE HE DID NOT SHOOT, AND YOU WILL ALL FIND OUT THE TRUTH SOON. HIS FAMILY AND I KNOW MORE THAN ANYONE SO FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO "THINK" YOU KNOW---YOUR WRONG. HE WAS NOT A THUG. HE WAS THE MOST POLITE, RESPECTFUL...2007 HUNTINGTON HIGH GRADUATE. WE HAD A LIFE AHEAD OF US AND NOW ITS DIMINISHED. I LOVED THIS MAN WITH ALL MY HEART. WE NEVER EVEN HAD THE CHANCE TO MARRY AND HAVE MORE CHILDREN. BUT HE WILL NOW REST IN PEACE LOOKING DOWN ON HIS DAUGHTER, WHILE I SHARE MEMORIES OF HIM SO SHE CAN KNOW WHAT HE WAS LIKE.♥♥♥
Posted by: FRANK on May 14, 2008 at 11:26 PM
FOR EVERYONE SAYING THIS IS A RACE ISSUE THAT IS THE BIGGEST COP OUT YET.ITS TIME TO STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ACTIONS AND QUIT BLAMING STUFF ON EVERYONE ELSE.FIRST OFF I GET TREATED LIKE THE SAME TRASH AS A WHITE MAN AS ANY BLACKMAN SO DONT GO THERE.SECOND HE SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD A GUN AND FIRED AT POLICE OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER.BUT AS I STATED EARLIER THAT DOESNT MAKE IT OK TO USE LETHAL FORCE AS A FIRST OPTION.NOR DOES IT MAKE IT OK TO LEAVE HIM LAYING THERE HELPLESS BLEEDING TO DEATH FOR TWO HOUS WATCHING HIM.I KNOW THEY COULD SEE HIM I LISTENED TO THE WHOLE THING ON THE SCANNER.BUT AS FAR AS THE POLICE GO IN THIS TOWN THEY ARE OUT OF CONTROL AND I SAY THAT FROM PERSNAL EXPERIENCE AND WHAT I HERE AND SEE EVERY DAY.
Posted by: ACE on May 14, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Sorry but if you are being shot at what would you do,i`d shoot back. I believe the officers where in the right,and yes he was hit and suffered,but they had to make sure it was safe to approach the victim or maybe we would be talking about the officer who had been shot and maybe killed. Yes i feel for this guy`s family. I wish they did`nt have to go through this. And i don`t think it`s racial thing, i`m so tired of people playing this card...
Posted by: Raven on May 14, 2008 at 10:47 PM
just wanted to share this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkln-28RldA
Posted by: Frankthewarrior on May 14, 2008 at 07:14 PM
Who do you think you are going to impress or convice on here? I never did study the rules of ingagement? First of all I do not know what ingagment is. I do know what an MOS is. I am willing to bet you claim to be an 11 Bravo. Anyway your description of combat is hilarious. Save your whole defend the freedoms speech for the women in the bar you lie to. A real combat vet that you claim to be would never monday morning quarterback a gun fight. You of all people would know no plan survives first contact. As far as lethal force: what military were you in where you use lethal force as a last measure when being fired at. Oh thats right you had ROTC in high school. New training memo to cops: use pepper spray or asp when being shot at and if they do not work you can then use a firearm. No combat vet has to get on blogs and brag about his expierence/knowledge. Go away Frank you have been punked out.
Posted by: miss priss on May 14, 2008 at 06:00 PM
I think that all the people that are on here making remarks about a person that you do not know should be ashamed of yourselves How would you feel if it was someone that you knew or someone in your family ( you would be thinking a lot differently). My prayers goes out to his family and friends. Knowing now that he is in a better place would ease the pain. Again, people think before you speak cause next time the tables could be turned
Posted by: shorts on May 14, 2008 at 04:31 PM
wow all these comments well first off what i think comin from a white girl.... i think it is a race issue cuz ive seen it happen before to alot of my friends where they attacked on the black n not the white. maybe he had a gun so what lots of people have guns now a days but you dont see them tripping over a white man having one!!!! the way i see police officers now im scared to even call on them anymore there acting out in the wrong way!!! i dont know the kid real well but maybe if huntington had more for people to do and more jobs maybe we wouldnt have to be drug dealers!!! and you people say what if he hit a young child well what if a police officer did? i seen them one time before act out on some friends and they did it right in front of kids and nobody had a gun there. but yet since my friend was black the police beat my friend sooo bad she lost her unborn child thanx officers!!! and one more thing maybe you guys should of taken him to the hospital sooner then let him lay
Posted by: a friend on May 14, 2008 at 03:46 PM
i no rayshawn and i was really good friends with his sister. i dont understand how everyone can talk all this about him when half you people didnt no him. u no everyone make bad choices. but he was never no thug. he was a good brother as well as father and if everyone to sit here and talk all this i hope something like this happens to someone u no and maybe you will understand.. god be with breona and trickie.. god bless rest in peace RayShawn
Posted by: Long Time Resident on May 14, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Excessive Force. Just Like they Shot the Vet. on 28th Street a while back for having a bottle of water. And like they are showing on news now about a suspect that had already been aprehended and cuffed. From the News chopper they showed the officer kick this man in the face. Better investigate the TRUTH not what PD says to cover themselves.
Posted by: nlj on May 14, 2008 at 03:34 PM
people are accusing others of not having a heart,let me say this I probably have the biggest heart,but this situation was started because a person was running the streets with a gun and he could have started shooting at anyone,I'm not saying he deserved to die,and I do feel very bad for his family but,if he had problems he needed his family to seek him help.I know that the Prestera on rt.60 would have helped him,and they do have a crisis unit on site,money or not he would have been helped.so please give us a break and see it if it was not your family member,we all know that you would have felt the same way.he did make a very bad decision and it cost him his life.once again sorry for your loss.
Posted by: an officer on May 14, 2008 at 03:25 PM
I see this is a tragedy for all sides. I do not know any of the parties involved or the situation leading up to this incident other than what I have read. I will say that in the past 14 years as an officer I have been involved in a few gunfire exchanges and once while in the military. In my opinion, once you are fired upon race is not an issue. It is a very nerve racking event and you don't wonder who is on the other end or how nice. As an officer my gun fire exchanges have been with white men but I am certain if another ethnic group fired on me I would shoot back if still capable. As far as the young man goes, I don't know him, I don't know why he made the choices he did. He may have been a friend to some but to fire upon an officer makes me question his character and his influences in recently. Now he leaves a grieving family. Our society is decaying around us and it is disheartening. Our morals have deteriorated to a point that I wonder if we will ever get them back.
Posted by: FRANK on May 14, 2008 at 01:37 PM
TO FRANK IS FAKE...LET ME JUST SAY I HAVE A DD214 THAT SAYS I AM A DISABLED VET NEVER CLAIMED I WON THE SILVER STAR JUST STATING FACTS. THAT NON LEATHAL FORCE SHOULD BE A LAST RESORT NOT FIRST OBVIOUSLY YOU NEVER WAS IN THE MILITARY AND HAD TO STUDY THE RULES OF INGAGEMENT. ALL I SAID IS THEY COULD HAVE HELPED THIS YOUNG MAN NOT LET HIM BLEED TO DEATH AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONAL AND USED LETHAL FORCE AS A LAST OPTION. BUT FOR YOU TO QUESTION MY MILITARY BACK GROUND WELL YOU ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE COWARDS THAT SIT HOME AND BEAT PEOPLE WITH BLOGS AND PENCILS CAUSE YOU DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH BACK BONE TO DEFEND THE FREEDOMS YOU SO OFTEN TAKE FOR GNATED AND ABUSE.
Posted by: Meg on May 14, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Rashawn will be really missed, and no matter what you think is right, you are really heartless to call him horrible things right here where his family can read. you know nothing about them and still think you have the right to do this. people make mistakes, and his was a big one and i would never want anyone else to be in harm for these actions, but people need to realize that this friend is not the "thug" everyone thinks he is. i have known him since middle school and he was always a kind person to me
Posted by: ..... on May 14, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Good job MUPD!! You make the city proud. HPD probably wouldn't have even investigated this. MUPD put their lives in danger to protect and they should be applauded. Although, aiming for somewhere that would have caused more pain and wouldn't have been fatal wouldn't have been a bad idea. Let him suffer then send his pathetic self to jail. Try that one next time. Shooting at officers would get him the time he deserved. One criminal down. Keep up the good work guys!!
Posted by: maddi on May 14, 2008 at 11:45 AM
It has nothing to do with race and its so crazy that some of you people think it does. If it was a white man shooting at the police the police would have done the exact same thing so get over yourselfs. Sorry the guy died and may god bless the family in this time of need but one thing the guy should have thought about what he was doing to bring a gun into a store what are people suppose to think when they see that? Thats why they called the police anyone in their right mind would. The police are here to protect the community and the officers and if someone decides that they want to be a big boy and shot at the police then its his fault for being stupid. And its everyones fault who decides to open gun fire in the community and at the officers if they get shot and killed no one is to blame but themselfs. So back off the police they were doing their job and they did a great job by protecting everyone. Give them a break. Good job HPD.
Posted by: Frankisafake on May 14, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Frank is a fake. He has never served in no army. Maybe the Salvation Army. A real soldier never gets on here claiming he is a five time silver star special forces vet. He he watched too many episodes of the Unit.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 14, 2008 at 11:14 AM
i love how people on here are just like thanks for making are street safe..But not to inform you that there is still a a person out there who killed leah hickman. I dont care if it was just for leah and no one else. But still there still on the street. Yes this young man who died was into drugs. Who in huntington isnt anymore everytime you go by a street you see your crack girls who are all small and nasty looking. Yea this young man should not of ran and shot at the police maybe he would still be here today and would gets his stuff straight to make a life for him and have kids and a wife one day but it was to late for him. But did anyone stop to think so many people are getting gun permitts now so. your going to see alot more people with guns after leahs accident..
Posted by: Sally on May 14, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Why I would want to be a policeman: Let me see, the pay is great, NO You are appreciated by everyone, NO You can shoot back if you are shot at, NO You are on call 24 hours a day, NO Oh well, I think I'll take that job at Walmart after all!
Posted by: Ari on May 14, 2008 at 10:42 AM
derek your an idiot along with freind and alwayd b on his side. Isaac you are right on!
Posted by: Anonymous on May 14, 2008 at 10:07 AM
he could have killed a police officer does anyone here remember the last officer to die like that in huntington aman doing what he could to protect our lifes and property well i do his name was paul harmon officers you all done what u had to do may god bless all of you and keep you safe
Posted by: John on May 14, 2008 at 09:07 AM
One less dirtbag on the streets.
Posted by: Randy on May 14, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Its a shame this young man is dead,however he made that decision to fire at the cops.In turn he lost the fight. I do not know the the young man or any of the cops involved. If you shoot at a cop chances are your goning to get shot at. These men and women of lawenforcement have families they want to go home to. Some kid with a gun doing things he shouldn't paid for HIS mistakes. NOW AS FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS involved in the shooting.This goes to not only the MUPD officers but to the HPD officers. They have to live with what happened. They did not go to work that day and say "hey lets kill someone." They did their jobs and did it good. They still have to live with what happened.They are going through things with their families and maybe explaining to their kids that some bad guy tried to take away their mommy or daddy. MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH THOSE OFFICERS AND FAMILIES
Posted by: A MOM on May 14, 2008 at 08:53 AM
Im so sick and tired of this race issue...THE MAN HAD A GUN A SHOT AT POLICE OFFICERS....ASK YOURSELFS WHY HE HAD A GUN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND WHY WAS IN ARRESTED FOR DRUGS THE WEEK BEFORE...THIS YOUNG MAN WAS ON THE WRONG PATH....IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE BUT EVERYTHING TO DUE WITH FACTS...COME ON PEOPLE, BLACK OR WHITE...YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS..LETS COME TOGETHER AND GET THESE DRUGS OFF THE STREET..THEY ARE KILLING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE!!!
Posted by: Why? on May 14, 2008 at 08:47 AM
To those complaining and wanting WSAZ to take the comments down because the family members and friends are reading the comments... It is their choice to read the comments. They don't have to. Really... who is forcing them to type in wsaz in the addy bar and then click on this story and scroll down and read the comments? It is called personal responsibility. If I were a family member, personally, I would have taken the gun away from him. If the family and friends say he needed help, I would have gotten it for him. I am thankful that the police protected me from someone who had a gun and was not supposed to be carrying one since he was out on bond. Let's all remember he is the one who decided to shoot. It does not matter why. Even my 7yo son knows not to shoot at anybody because if they have a gun, they will shoot back. Some of you other posters are wacked out also... you complain when the police don't do their job. Now, they have and you still complain. Grow up!
Posted by: JT on May 14, 2008 at 08:27 AM
I am amazed as I sit here and read these comments. This man had a gun, he fled from the police, he fired shots. Why in the world should everyone elses life be put at risk for this gentleman who passed. It is the duty of the police department to protect the community. Hooray they did their job because obviously whomever called this in to the police felt threatened. I am truly sorry this man lost his life. To all of you who are claiming foul or playing the race card would you be applauding if he had shot a child in this ordeal? In my opinion maybe he should have thought twice before becoming involved in drug sales and maybe he wouldn't have had to be packing a gun to start with.
Posted by: BILL on May 14, 2008 at 06:37 AM
HE IS DEAD, GET OVER IT NOW.. GET SOMETHING WE CANT CHANGE. THE POLICE DID THERE JOB. THE OFFICERS WENT HOME TO THERE FAMILIES AND ALL CITIZENS ARE SAFE AND ONE SUSPECT WAS FATALLY WOUNDED DUE TO HIS HORRIBLE DECISIONS. ITS NOT A BLACK THING PEOPLE, THATS OLD NOW, FIND SOMETHING ELSE. THAT IS WORE OUT IN DAY AND AGE. DO YOU HEAR THE WHITE PEOPLE SCREAMING AND GOING TO PICKET LINES OVER MISS.BLACK USA. HOW IS THAT FAIR? COME ON IF WE HAD A ALL MISS.WHITE USA, LORD HOW MERCY YOU ALL WOULD GO BALLISTIC. NOW THINK ABOUT THAT FOR JUST A MINUTE. THIS YOUNG MAN MADE A HORRIBLE DECISION AND HE PAID DEARLY FOR IT. I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE ON HERE SAY HE DIDNT HAVE TO DIE OVER THIS. YOU ARE RIGHT HE DIDNT HAVE TO DIE THIS WAY, IF HE WOULD LISTENED TO THE OFFICERS AND DID NOT RUN FROM THEM. QUIT MAKING BLAME WHERE THERE IS NO BLAME. THE BLAME IS THE BLACK MALE SUSPECT, NOT THE OFFICERS.
Posted by: Isaac on May 14, 2008 at 05:31 AM
I am glad none of you people are law makers on here saying this man didn't deserve to be shot! He had a gun and shot at police, he was just arrested for drugs so what other crimes should he be invovled in before he is considered deserving. You know every serial killer including Charlie Manson had family that loved him. Just because a man has children, a wife and is a good person doesn't mean he can get away with breaking the law! The police did a good job and we should be thankful none of them got hurt! This man had it coming he was just doing to much wrong,you play you pay !!! Also good job WSAZ for a web site that allows voices to be heard,this is a good outlet tool for comments on stories you print. Keep it up!!
Posted by: jimbo on May 14, 2008 at 01:25 AM
facts: before any shooting, cops give suspect chance to put down gun, he doesn't; suspect shoots at cop; cops fire back. How did the cops do wrong? also, the cops only returned fire when fired upon. So where did the cops do wrong come on people
Posted by: FRANK on May 14, 2008 at 12:49 AM
HEY TOM BEFORE YOU TELL ME ABOUT MY SPELLING CHECK YOURS.
Posted by: ANON. on May 14, 2008 at 12:35 AM
All you dumb people need to understand, that as a police officer and in the event that someone is shooting at you, you are bound by law to subdue the suspect in ANY manor necessary. Maybe some of you people need to be staring down the barrel of a loaded gun in the hands of a person on drugs and then wonder what you are going to do... Kill or be killed?
Posted by: derek on May 13, 2008 at 11:51 PM
the real bad guys here are the H.P.D
Posted by: MT on May 13, 2008 at 11:35 PM
I cannot believe how people think it is ok to be a drug dealer or user, and to shoot at police officers, and not be shot back at. DUH! We need to get back to the idea that crime does not pay. We need to bring back parents and schools rights to spank, and for the big kids and adults, we need to build more jails and have manual labor for the prisoners. Thank you Marshall PD and Huntington PD, thanks for making our streets safe.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 13, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Rashawn was on his knees with his hands on his head. The gun was found 20 feet away from him and he was shot through his hand and then the bullet went inside his head. You tell me how a man who got shot in his head also has been shot in the hand???? These cops play it wrong and most of you only know what the newspaper and news tell you. This is a white man's world and they just got away with murder again.
Posted by: Local Resident/Student on May 13, 2008 at 10:48 PM
This is really getting out of hand! Do not get me wrong - I do not want this man to be dead right now. BUT, it does not matter how nice of a person this man was in the past. He pulled a gun and shot at officers. I heard it over the scanner. He shot first. An officer has a duty to protect himself and those around them. As a resident and Marshall student who lives in the area and goes to the Speedway in this area, I am glad that there is one less threat to my personal health in the area. The choices a person makes are their choices. There are millions of people with a rough life that DO NOT shoot at people and DO NOT use drugs. That is no excuse. I feel for his family, as I have had a family member make some bad decisions with tragic results myself. In the end, however, this decion lies in their own hands, not those of anyone around them. My prayers are with the family and friends of this young man.
Posted by: Hannibal on May 13, 2008 at 10:22 PM
He should not have been bonded out ! Let's see he must be yet another innocent victim, because he was black ? I'm so sad this young man is dead, but maybe he would have taken some REAL innocent lives down the road, who knows. It does sound like he was going down the wrong road, but as I said I'm really sorry he's dead. He should have not fired at the police or anyone for that matter, unless it was in self defense ! What a waste of life.
Posted by: To the DUMB ones on May 13, 2008 at 10:20 PM
This goes out to BUCKY...this has nothing to do with black people you ignorant fool..this happens to people of all races everything just in different cities..we wont get on any racial bases cause that is where you are wrong..last time i checked there are more whites causing these types of problems so check ya status Mr.BUCKY and get a life...
Posted by: Race not the point here on May 13, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Let’s see here. Black/White, Kid/Adult, Hood/Not in the Hood, Drugs/No Drugs. Who cares? He pulled a gun and fired upon Police Officers that you (tax payers) pay to protect you and you kids and now all you can do is complain about them. Grow-Up! If I was a Police Officer and someone fired at me guess what? I am going to fire back and Hope and Pray I get to go home and see my family. I would not care of Race, Sex, Age, Gang etc. You’re going down. You’re paying me to keep you stupid people safe. He wanted to act big by carrying a gun. Well as the saying goes you play you pay. If he wanted to care a gun and act big then he should have joined a the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force or got hired as a police officer and he would have been a live and has some of you had made the comments He could have been a part of the Donut Gang waiting on Crispy Creams at Speedway waiting on the daily delivery of the Chocolate Glaze. Way to go MUPD for protecting the MU students Keep it the good work......
Posted by: sadly on May 13, 2008 at 10:09 PM
My heart goes out to the family,may your loved one rest in peace.I will personally apologize for all of these negative comments left by all of these hurtful people.greatest sympathy
Posted by: jimbo on May 13, 2008 at 09:53 PM
to comments posted earlier.... I was there before he started shooting, the cops told him to lay the gun down and he would be fine. layed it down then hesitated after a second and picked it up and shot at them while he ran away. Maybe he was on drugs at the time, who knows. but still it's his own fault it happened but it is a tragedy that it took that long for the cops to realize he was seriously injured.
Posted by: concerned citizen on May 13, 2008 at 09:48 PM
Why was an 18 year old walking around with a gun??? Why did he run??? Why did he shoot at police in a populated area??? It don't matter what color he is, or which police dept was involved. It matters that a 18 yr. old had a gun, endangering the lives of innocent people, and the lives of officers who put their lives on the line for our safety.
Posted by: huntington on May 13, 2008 at 09:40 PM
WSAZ take these comments off! Don't you realize that the family and the young man's friends are reading some of the trash talk on here? They are grieving for crying out loud! I hope each one of you who have been nasty never have to go through with what this poor parent is enduring.
Posted by: resident to accident on May 13, 2008 at 09:38 PM
If this thug thinks he can carry a gun and show it off and not think that the police would not be interested. Come On. This person made a stupiud mistake!! police are trained to respond to people like this, especially when they shoot at the police. I guess you could say, You make your grave, you sleep in it. HPD,MUPD,WVSP good job and keep up the good work!!
Posted by: Bev on May 13, 2008 at 09:31 PM
I have nothing but sympathy for this man's family. I can't imagine how bad I would feel to lose my son any way let alone this way. I have to say that some people are trying to make this look like the cops just chased him down and killed him. HE SHOT AT THEM FIRST! They were doing what they were trained to do. Now his actions are hurting his loved ones and his child is fatherless. Put the blame where it belongs. We all make choices every day in our lives. Unfortunately he made some wrong choices and they cost him his life. Now we have to pray that his child will learn to make the RIGHT choices. God be with his loved ones.
Posted by: satisfied citizen on May 13, 2008 at 09:12 PM
There is one less drug dealer in Huntington. The police did their job. He was carrying a concealed weapon(without a permit), he fired shots at the officers, I guess I totally missed the part that makes him the victim and the Police the bad guys. I am truely sorry for his family but the cops are definately nott o blame.
Posted by: Conway on May 13, 2008 at 08:37 PM
If you are referring to the State Police yeah they showed up just as the cameras appeared, they contributed nothing
Posted by: Anonymous on May 13, 2008 at 08:16 PM
you can do anything in life......if your willing to pay the consequence!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on May 13, 2008 at 07:47 PM
WHAT DID HE DO TO THE COPS TO COME AFTER HIM JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE CAME UP TO THEM AND SAID A MAN GOT A GUN HE WASNT DOING ANYTHING TO ANYONE
Posted by: BOBO on May 13, 2008 at 07:24 PM
To anonymous. Go back to HHS. You apparently did not attend English Class. If you did you were not paying attention. I undrestand why you did not sign your comment. I would be ashamed too if i had Butchered the English Language as you did.
Posted by: Mike on May 13, 2008 at 07:17 PM
Everyone wants to know why he laid there before Police Approached. Well the answer is simple. The real police was not there yet. Also the H.P.D. Donut Gang was waiting on Crispy Cream to deliver the Daily Chocolate Glaze.
Posted by: Rhonda on May 13, 2008 at 07:03 PM
My heart goes out to his family. I cannot imagine losing my son at the age of 19! May God be with his family.
Posted by: dumb people on May 13, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Last time I heard when you shoot at the police they will shoot back. Thats what they are trained to do. And if he did not shoot at them we would still be alive today.
Posted by: sicken on May 13, 2008 at 06:09 PM
i buried a friend in which the police shot and killed.yes this was partialy due to drugs.this mans family i feel your pain.dont get me wrong i think that they police dept done what they felt they had to do..i wonder why it is everyone says these kids getting killed should be more educated.Maybe the law enforcement should be more educated.i have friends on the police dept. and im sure the truth will never be told as it wasnt with my buddy..its life we have to deal with it people should use these deaths as lessons.stop doing what your doing.leave the drugs alone if your buddy is messing with them or your family turn them in..they will thank u in long run when they r still alive but burying their buddies..im not innocent i used drugs, i sold them,thought about robbing.to be honest sometimes i wished someone wouldve killed me.PEOPLE GET CLEAN DONT STOP TILL U FIND HELP.i was one of them no matter the sitution theres no wrong no right way to handle such things? I will pray for both sides....
Posted by: Bucky on May 13, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Black people need to take control of their own community. Raise your children right, to respect the laws. That is the only way things will change.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 13, 2008 at 05:38 PM
I DON'T THIS IS RIGHT NO MATTER IF HE HAD THE GUN OR NOT WHY KILL HIM RAYSHAW WAS MY FRIEND WENT TO HHS TOGETHER.THE MAN JUST HAD A KID AND A NICE GIRLFRIEND BUT NOW WE GOIN TO HAVE TO PUT HIM 6 FEET UNDER CAUSE POLICE JUST WANT TO KILL AND OT HELP... TO ME I DON'T THINK THIS IS RIGHT EVERYONE WANT TO PUT THIS STORY OUT TO BE THAT RAYSHAWN WAS THE BAD ONE LET'S LOOK AT THE POLICES THEY REALLY THE BAD ONE...
Posted by: Liz on May 13, 2008 at 04:47 PM
My heart goes out to the Harless family, I know Ray and he loves his Family. He was a good man and a good FATHER. You who say that its right he died , you are all wrong, do you think your family dserves to die?? My thoughts and prayers are with the Harless family and also with Kayla and the baby.
Posted by: HURT on May 13, 2008 at 04:29 PM
I'm appalled at how people can say the nastiest things about a person who has just lost their life and not knowing what the real circumstances are. You only know what the news has aired and it looks like they are partners with the police dept. Only one side of the story has been told but I sincerely hope that other side is told. RaShawn was a very respectful person but when a person ask for help and the whole city turns their back on him, he probably felt like there was no where to go. I hope that the hospitals that would not accept him because of insurance feels the pain that the family feels because this all could have been avoided. There are so many negative comments on here that are so hurtful. WSAZ you really should proofread them more carefully because some people just sit behind a computer and say the most outrageous things that come to mind. The police are going to try to cover their behinds but I sincerely hope that the family and the community stand together on this issue.
Posted by: Conway on May 13, 2008 at 04:26 PM
To anon (5/13/08, 1:07 pm) you say that you are tired of cops killing young black men in Huntington. Just how many have they killed? Feel free to speak, but don't make yourself look stupid. Name one other young, or old black man that the police have killed in Huntington. Please enlighten us with your knowledge.
Posted by: Hmmm on May 13, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Derek, How do you know that the cop who shot him isn't black? I don't remember seeing that information.
Posted by: HHS Student on May 13, 2008 at 04:05 PM
I went to high school with him...like Derek said below me...if you knew where he lived, you would have a gun too. This guy was a HHS graduate so I don't know why all of you are saying he didn't have an education. He left behind a son, girlfriend, mother, sister...and he will be missed. RIP Rashawn Harless
Posted by: Mike on May 13, 2008 at 04:04 PM
I see a lot of people who need some English 101. Most people know to capitalize the start of a sentence. Tom, you should not tell people how to spell when you can't spell yourself.
Posted by: friend on May 13, 2008 at 04:03 PM
rashawn was a best friend of my brothers and i treated him as if he were another little brother of mine. he was a polite, sweet young man who sadly got caught up in the wrong things. people make mistakes and choose to do wrong things sometimes, but that does not make them a bad person, and it certaintly doesn't mean that they deserve to die. whats wrong with trying to help these young people out there that actually have a chance to turn their life around? rip rashawn, you will be greatly missed- we love you!
Posted by: Really on May 13, 2008 at 03:59 PM
WSAZ!!!! TAKE THESE COMMENTS OFF OF HERE, THEY ARE HURTFUL. LET THIS FAMILY GRIEVE IN PEACE!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: derek on May 13, 2008 at 03:21 PM
i kno him and he is a good man. and for all u sayin he shouldnt have a gun. if u lived where he did u would have one too. u have no idea. and i guess for some of u, u didnt hear he was surrendin. he had his hands on the back of his head, thats why tho bullet went in his finger first. so just stop talkin trash. and if the polce is trained so good they could have took better procedures. jus some racist cop wanted to be cool. my hearts out to the family
Posted by: Tom on May 13, 2008 at 02:57 PM
to Frank who spelled your name for you? I know someone elese did it because one of those land mines messed your spelling up!!!
Posted by: jlp on May 13, 2008 at 02:53 PM
I am not trying to be mean but in response to friend and always will be, I see the problem is very few in the community take responsibility for their own actions. Education early in life is key and it is a free education so use it. To play and act "thug" is stupidity. The way it appears to me is that some areas and people are stuck in a vicious cycle. If you don't want to help yourself how on earth will any help that may be provided in the future be of any use if you refuse it? That goes for life in the hood and life in the back hollows. I grew up in a bad area of Charleston, got my High School degree. I wanted to go to college and could not afford it right away so I joined the Army. After that, I took advantage of programs offered to me and went to college. Is this a formula for everyone? No. But I did it myself. I did not try the easy road of instant gratification or instant money. Don't blame others if you are stuck. Blame yourself then do something about it.
Posted by: Huntington on May 13, 2008 at 02:27 PM
I feel terrible for his poor mother. Come on! She had to spend mother's day grieving by the side of her child. Some of the people who put comments on here have no heart. What if it were legal to kill everyone who ever made a bad decision, a mistake? None of us would be here. To the family, I sincerely send my sympathy. He only lived a short 19 years and just because of an error in judgment, he is gone. Love his heart and yours. And for the rest of the comments who think I am a bleeding heart, at least I have one!!!
Posted by: Michael on May 13, 2008 at 02:24 PM
Ray was a good young man i attended high school with. His death is tragic but the responce from the community is the worst. A Human Life is A Human Life. PERIOD. and a great one full of potential was stole. as for police protecting themselves, the SWAT team was called in for one shooting suspect, are those not slightly drastic messures? Oh well most of Huntington sees it as one more thug off the streets, and to those who knew Ray, let them think what they want. Ray's family and friends know the truth, and so does GOD, other then that Who Matters. R.I.P. Rashawn Harless..You Are Missed
Posted by: Anonymous on May 13, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Why is it when someone shoots at the police, it's a mistake. It is a bad choice that he choose to take. If you want to have a better place to live, stop making excuses for those that make bad choices. Each person should be held accountable for their actions. Very few people that commits a crime stands up for their actions. Most run and hide and cry foul play once caught. I been to war and when an INSURGENT shot at me I shot back. It did not matter whether he ran out of bullets or not, I shoot to kill. I been through