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Promising Young Boxer Gunned Down In Sarasota

SNN 6 photo by JOHN ANDREWS

Sarasota police restrain Cornell Harris, the father of shooting victim Cornell Harris Jr. when he arrived at the scene of the shooting in Sarasota on Saturday and tried to see his son's body.

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HALLE STOCKTON

Sarasota Herlad Tribune

Published: March 8, 2009

Sarasota - Cornell Harris Jr. and Whitney Torres were shot while they were in Torres' apartment in the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue.

Harris, 21, a nationally ranked amateur boxer as a teenager, died there. Torres, 20, was flown by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where she was listed in serious but stable condition Saturday night. She had been shot several times.

"They are operating on her and are hopeful that she will survive," said Sarasota Police Capt. William Spitler.

Detectives have leads in the case and are continuing to interview nearby residents and family members, he said.

The motive for the shooting was unclear Saturday.

"Anything at this point would only be an educated guess," Spitler said.

A child was in the apartment at the time of the shooting and has been handed over to family members. The child was not injured.

Harris and Torres were apparently dating, Spitler said.

Harris has a son, but it was unclear if he was the child in the apartment.

Harris, a 2005 Booker High School graduate, comes from a well-known Sarasota boxing family.

His father, Cornell Harris, is a former professional boxer, wrestler and kickboxer. His younger brother, 2008 Booker High graduate Darel Harris, has been ranked as high as third nationally as a junior boxer in the 125-pound division.

Cornell Harris Jr. was ranked as high as fifth nationally as a junior boxer and qualified for the Junior Olympic Nationals.

Harold Wilen, club director and trainer at the Sarasota Boxing Club, said he coached Harris Jr. at the club for more than 10 years.

Wilen said Harris Jr. had gotten off track for a while but had been straightening out his life and returning to the gym in recent months.

"As many youngsters over the years, he got into that alternative lifestyle out on the streets," Wilen said. "But he was turning it around. He started a family, and he was attending the gym more regularly. He was a very warm and caring guy."

Harris Jr. was one of the most talented amateur boxers Wilen has trained, the coach said.

"He was the best in terms of his raw ability, incredible speed of hand and foot," he said. "He was the hardest hitter, pound-for-pound, I've ever had."

Harris Jr.'s son turned 2 on Saturday, Wilen said.

Torres, who graduated in 2007 from the Cyesis Teen Parent Program, had not been living in the Orange Avenue apartment very long, Spitler said. The apartment is in a Sarasota Housing Authority complex.

The scene at the apartment complex got chaotic Saturday morning when Harris' father arrived at the scene. Cornell Harris tried to go into the apartment to see his son's body but was tackled by a half-dozen officers before he could get there.

As police took Harris to the ground several people in the crowd that had gathered yelled not to hurt him, or shoot him, that he was the victim's father.

Harris, who was crying and visibly upset, was handcuffed and put into a patrol car. He was taken to the police station and later released. Spitler said police had to keep Harris away to protect the crime scene.

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