COMMUNITY'S VOICE USHERS IN JUSTICE

Testimony By Victims' Family Members Helps Lock Away A Scourge Of Gilpin Court

Lance Jerome Harris didn't have a job.

He didn't need one.

"He supported himself off the streets of Gilpin Court, by selling drugs and
robbing people," said Richmond police Lt. John Venuti.

The 24-year-old man with dreadlocks was known to sell heroin and cocaine in
the public housing community. He had a mean streak and a passion for
violence that no one understood, authorities said.

And, he was facing charges related to the murders of two Richmond men.

"He was a bad, bad fella," said Richmond Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney
Learned D. Barry. "He terrorized Gilpin Court."

Because so many people feared Harris, no one wanted to testify against him
- -- at least not until now.

As of last week, the code of silence was broken and Harris, known as one of
Gilpin Court's most notorious criminals, had been taken off the streets.

Following testimony from some of the victims' family members, Harris was
sentenced to 50 years behind bars for his involvement in the murders of
30-year-old Donald C. Gentry and 20-year-old Shawn J. Morton.

This year, Harris entered an Alford plea to two counts of second-degree
murder, meaning he acknowledged the evidence would convict him but did not
admit guilt. Morton had been shot in the face with a shotgun on Jan. 26,
2003. Gentry had been shot 12 times on July 9, 2004.

"It was the kind of stuff you see on TV," Barry said. "It was just a
violent act. We still don't know what in the world this was all about."

After reviewing the evidence, Richmond Circuit Judge Bradley B. Cavedo
sentenced Harris last week to a half-century in prison. While the hearing
"was a very quiet event," according to Barry, it was also a very symbolic one.

Barry said the judge recognized "how difficult it was to prosecute killers
who kill in the projects."

Venuti said he would like to believe the homicide team put Harris away.

But it took more than that.

Detectives David Burt, Andre Boswell, Kenneth Foster, James Simmons and
Jason Hudson coordinated the murder investigations and worked closely with
the Narcotics Unit, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the
U.S. Attorney's Office to "break this code of silence," Venuti said.

"Every unit and officer from within the Richmond Police Department as well
as many other agencies contributed to this effort in some fashion and share
the success of this investigation," he added.

Barry applauded those who had the courage to stand up to Harris.

"I think we reached a point where he had killed enough people that even the
silent community began cooperating with us," he said.

On Wednesday, when the victims' families took the stand, "it was very sad,"
Barry said.

It was also monumental.

"This case shows it is possible to break the code of silence," Venuti said.
"Gilpin Court is a better place today."