CANTON TEEN GETS THE TENNIS SHOES…AND FIFTEEN YEARS TO SERVE

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Shunquez Harris, 17, of Canton, pled guilty to strong arm robbery in Madison County Circuit Court and was sentenced yesterday to the maximum of 15 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. 

On October 11, 2024, the Canton Police Department received a call from a concerned mother and her son, who is also seventeen. The mother stated that her son had been robbed of his shoes while in a gas station in Canton. Officers were able to obtain surveillance of the suspect entering the store behind the victim, flashing a handgun at the victim, and the victim taking off his shoes and handing them to the suspect. Officers recognized Harris in the video from previous dealings with him. The victim was able to confirm Harris was the person who robbed him of his shoes. Harris would later admit to the robbery to investigators with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and Canton Police Department. 

The Defendant elected to proceed to trial but ultimately changed his mind and entered a guilty plea after voir dire. The State dismissed another armed robbery indictment against Harris as part of the plea as that victim had moved out of state. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “Please let this case put all young people on notice in Madison and Rankin counties: I do not care how old you are. If you commit crimes with a firearm in my district, I have original jurisdiction over your case. You will be indicted as an adult, and you will face prison time. This teenager lost the next 15 years of his life over a pair of tennis shoes. I will not stand for senseless acts of violence against the citizens of Madison and Rankin counties.”