Harris gets life, plus 17 years in slaying of Holliman

On Thursday, a Mississippi County jury found Rakeem Harris guilty of first-degree murder in the March 2019 slaying of 20-year-old Malik Holliman on South 21st Street.

Harris was sentenced to life on the murder charge, plus seven years for the presence of a child and another 10 years for firearm enhancement.

Curtis Walker, Jr. and Gina Nelson—deputy prosecuting attorneys—prosecuted 29-year-old Rakeem Harris of Blytheville for Holliman’s 2019 murder. Circuit Judge Charles Mooney, Jr. followed the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Harris to life plus 17 years’ imprisonment.

On March 30, 2019, Blytheville Police Department officers responded to a shots-fired call at Danny’s Store (930 South 21st Street). Upon arrival, officers found Holliman’s lifeless body lying on the store’s front doorstep. Police say surviellance video shows Harris shooting Holliman.

Walker and Nelson thanked the Blytheville Police Department for their investigation and hard work and the jurors for their willingness to serve.

Prosecuting Attorney Keith L. Chrestman thanked Walker and Nelson: “Walker and Nelson are a dynamic duo. I’m thankful for their continued willingness to serve. And their hard work—once again—has produced real results for Mississippi County and demonstrated that its citizens won’t tolerate senseless violence.”