MIAMI – A Miami man, who was previously jailed for a second-degree attempted murder and attempted armed robbery, is now facing new charges in connection to a fatal shooting that occurred in February 2021, authorities said.
Authorities said on Feb. 5, 2021, at approximately 10:27 a.m., Miami police officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert near the 1500 block of Northwest 58th Street.
Upon arrival, police said they discovered the victim, who they identified Thursday as Tilkharri Harris, sitting in the driver’s seat of a Mercedes-Benz suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
An arrest report from the Miami Police Department confirmed Harris’ home had also been struck several times in the hail of gunfire.
Authorities said first responders rushed the victim to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:06 a.m.
Investigators said they quickly launched a probe into the shooting, reviewing surveillance footage from the area.
Surveillance video revealed a newer model black Chevrolet Blazer with dark tints parked near the corner of Northwest 15th Avenue and Northwest 58th Street, just east of the victim’s home, according to the report. The vehicle arrived at approximately 7:53 a.m., hours before the shooting, and appeared to be lying in wait, authorities said.
Police said moments before the fatal shooting, the rear passenger window of the Chevrolet Blazer was lowered, and the vehicle moved westbound on Northwest 58th Street.
Authorities confirmed that additional surveillance video footage later showed the Blazer stopping in front of Harris’ home.
The driver, who police identified as 30-year-old Terrance Martin, was armed with a dark-colored semi-automatic gun as he exited the vehicle and began firing in the direction of the victim, who was seated in his car.
According to detectives, Martin stood on the floorboard of the Blazer and shot over the top of the vehicle, resting his left hand on the door frame as he continued firing.
After the shooting, police said Martin re-entered the SUV and fled westbound on Northwest 58th Street toward Northwest 17th Avenue. Surveillance footage indicated there were at least two other occupants inside the vehicle, suggesting a coordinated attack, according to investigators.
For years, authorities said the investigation continued with few leads until detectives with the Miami-Dade Police Department discovered a breakthrough.
Authorities said they found a black Chevrolet Blazer matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle parked in front of a home near the 3300 block of 48th Terrace a day before the murder.
Investigators said they obtained surveillance video from that location which showed Martin, who was 27 at the time of the incident, exiting the driver’s side of the Blazer. Police said Martin matched the physical description of the shooter seen in the footage from the day of the homicide.
Further evidence came when detectives said they recovered the Chevrolet Blazer on Feb. 6, 2021.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a spent .762 casing in the rear floorboard area, between the driver and passenger seats, the report stated. Forensic analysis confirmed that the casing was fired from the same weapon used in the fatal shooting, according to police.
Authorities said fingerprints lifted from the driver’s side door handle and interior matched Martin’s, further tying him to the crime. The forensic evidence, combined with cell-site records, placed Martin in the area of the murder at the time it occurred, according to the report.
Investigators said they also executed a search warrant on Martin’s Instagram account, revealing posts and messages that implicated him in the shooting.
Police said an email and phone number associated with the account matched Martin’s personal information, and further cellphone data placed him near the crime scene both the day before and on the day of the murder.
Authorities also discovered that Martin had a history of violent offenses, including felony convictions for attempted second-degree murder and attempted armed robbery in 2019, the report stated.
A motive remains unclear at this time.
According to jail records, Martin is facing multiple charges, including one count of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and conspiracy, second-degree murder with a weapon, throwing or shooting a missile and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
As of Wednesday, he was being held at the Metrowest Detention Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”
Local 10 News has requested the surveillance video in this case from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
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