COLFAX, WA – A Whitman County Superior Court jury has found 26 year old George Melvin Harris III guilty of manslaughter for killing his Pullman roommate in the 2021 shooting on College Hill.
The jury deliberated for about 9 hours before delivering their guilty verdict for 2nd degree felony manslaughter Friday afternoon. Harris also faced 1st degree manslaughter but the jury settled on the lesser count.
Harris shot and killed 23 year old Liban Barre near a large party outside on Pullman’s College Hill in September of 2021. He also allegedly shot and seriously injured former Washington State University football player Brandon Gray.
Gray refused to cooperate with investigators which prevented prosecutors from filing charges against Harris for shooting Gray. Harris argued that he was acting in self-defense.
The Pullman Police Department investigated the shooting for years before charges were filed last June. Harris now faces up to a little over 5 years in prison.
He was taken into custody Friday by the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office and is in jail on 100,000 dollars bond. Harris is scheduled to be sentenced next month. His trial began Monday.
