PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia judge on Wednesday agreed to lower the bail for a young man accused of shooting a police officer in the head and injuring another in August 2021. His defense attorney told the judge his client needed a lower bail so he can get treatment ordered by a judge in another case.
Jasir Harris was 16 years old when he allegedly fired 16 gunshots into an unmarked police car. The two officers inside were investigating a carjacking case near N. 5th Street and W. Susquehanna Avenue.
Officer Henry Glenn was hit in the head. The bullet is still lodged in his skull. Officer Iziz Allen had cuts across his face from flying glass when the car window was shot out.
Both pleaded with Judge Lillian Ransom not to reduce Harris’ bail. Glenn told the judge he has PTSD and severe anxiety, and he feels like he must constantly be armed and on the lookout. Allen testified to having overwhelming anxiety and said the incident has brought “a lot of turmoil” to his life and family.
The defense attorney explained that the reason Harris was seeking a reduced bail is that he has an unrelated gun case in juvenile court, and the judge on that case wants to send him to a facility for treatment.
Ransom granted his request, lowering bail to a “nominal amount” — but she assured both Glenn and Iziz that the young man would not be released but will instead go directly to a juvenile facility for treatment, where he will awaits trial for attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault on law enforcement and related charges.
In December, just a few days shy of his 18th birthday, Ransom had agreed to allow Harris to be tried as a juvenile.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 President John McNesby said in a statement: "Judge Lillian Ransom’s decision to lower the bail of a defendant who fired 16 times at Philadelphia police is reckless and dangerous. ... Enabling this defendant, who has an extensive history of violent behavior to reenter the juvenile system is a slap in the face to the very officers that he attempted to kill."
Prosecutors have filed an appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in hopes of trying Harris as an adult. If tried and convicted as an adult, Harris would serve a much longer sentence than as a juvenile.
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