Henrico County

300 block of East Beal Street

9:15 PM

Gunshot

Unknown

19-year-old arrested in slaying of Highland Springs student

By Bill Mckelway

Published: April 29, 2009

Henrico County police have arrested a 19-year-old Highland Springs man and charged him with murder in the shooting death Monday night of a pregnant Highland Springs High School student.

Authorities charged Brandon T. Garlick with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in a felony in connection with the death of Wazira Harris, an 18-year-old high school senior. Garlick made a brief appearance this morning in Henrico County General District Court and was given a tentative date of June 17 for his next court appearance.

He has been jailed with no bond.

Harris was apparently shot in the back as she fled a fight involving as many as 30 young people at an apartment complex just blocks from the school.

Police said Harris was taken in a private car to Richmond Community Hospital, where she died.

One witness, who called 911 at 9:17 p.m., said he heard as many as eight gunshots in the 300 block of East Beal Street at the Highland Woods apartment complex.

Harris’ family, who live in the 400 block of South Kalmia Avenue, declined comment yesterday, saying only that her loss is a private matter that has caused immeasurable grief, especially for the victim’s two siblings.

Highland Springs students were offered counseling services yesterday, according to school officials.

Harris’ death adds to a toll over the past two years that has taken a half-dozen lives among Highland Springs students, young people or apparent bystanders who live or work in the Highland Springs area.

On April 12, Chinese restaurant deliveryman Yong Sun died after being shot inside his car after making a delivery. That death occurred about a half-mile from where Harris was shot.

In December, near the same area, 16-year-old Quintin L. “Skittles” Chambers, a former Highland Springs student, was gunned down in a drive-by shooting. Two 18-year-olds have been charged with murder.

In February, more than two dozen gunshots were fired in an apparent gunfight that took the life of a Louisa County resident off Newbridge Road, about four blocks from where Chambers died.

And in March 2007, Highland Springs senior Rodrick Cousins Jr. was shot to death while visiting friends on Wren Road north of Nine Mile Road in a case of mistaken identity.

Police said they intend to show a strong presence in the Highland Woods complex over the next several days. Police patrols had been increased at three eastern Henrico trouble spots Monday night, but the Highland Woods property was not one of them, police said.

Harris’ death is believed to be the first shooting death at the Highland Woods property since June 2007, when three men there were shot—two fatally. One of the victims had recently graduated from Highland Springs.