ATLANTA — A vigil takes place on Saturday to honor and call for justice for a man shot and killed while walking his dog on Monday night in Atlanta, according to family.
It happened on Feb. 5 after 8 p.m. Atlanta Police Department officers were called to a shooting on Mitchell St. SW, where they found 44-year-old Samuel Harris, also known as "J.R.," dead, and his dog Tequilla stolen.
Family and friends are planning to gather around 5:30 p.m. for a vigil at Charles Harper Memorial Park on Feb. 10, which is just under half a mile away from where the shooting took place.
Lea Harris spoke with 11Alive's Cody Alcorn on Saturday ahead of the vigil; she said the two had been married for 15 years.
"To be honest with you, I don't even think I'm on the phone with you right now. I'm in a dream right now," Lea Harris said in an interview. "I'm really just waiting to wake up."
Describing her husband, Lea Harris emphasized his dedication to family and work.
"He worked. He was a family man," she said, adding later, "J.R. was a calm spirit,"
Samuel Harris, 44, originally from California, had lived in Georgia for 30 years, his wife said. He worked as an HVAC technician and previously taught beginner gymnastics lessons in Cincinnati. The couple, who did not have children, recently welcomed two dogs, Tequila and Hennessy, into their home.
Atlanta police released two photos of persons of interest in the case, seeking the public's assistance in identifying them. Lea Harris said on Saturday that Tequilla still hadn't been located.
"I can't see someone being so inhumane that you would just take someone's life for a dog," she said. "So I'm trying to find a different motive because I know you just didn't take my husband's life for a dog."
An online fundraiser has been set up by Samuel Harris' family to seek justice for his death. The funds will go towards offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Atlanta Police Department's Homicide Unit at 404-546-4235 or Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477) to submit anonymous tips.
