KANKAKEE, Ill. () — Nearly five years after the deadly shooting of Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and the severe wounding of Sgt. Tyler Bailey, the trial of Xandria Harris opened with raw emotion filling the courtroom as relatives and supporters gathered on both sides of the case.
Proceedings began on a strained note, with prosecutors raising concerns that the defense may have breached a gag order by speaking about the case with outside parties.
The judge moved quickly to reinforce the limits placed on public discussion of the case, warning everyone in the courtroom that any violation of the gag order could force a mistrial. If that happened, the judge said, a new trial likely could not be held until 2027.
During opening statements, prosecutors laid out their version of the Dec. 29, 2021, shooting and told jurors they would be shown body camera video connected to Harris’ alleged actions that night.
The encounter, prosecutors said, started when a clerk at a Comfort Inn contacted police after discovering dogs left inside a vehicle during freezing weather.
According to the prosecution, Sgt. Rittmanic and Sgt. Bailey went to a hotel room where Harris and Darius Sullivan were staying. Prosecutors said the officers knocked at least six times over the course of 13 minutes while repeatedly asking Harris to open the door.
Prosecutors alleged that Harris stalled before opening the door so Sullivan could prepare and load an automatic weapon, which they said was used to fire on the officers almost immediately after the door opened.
They further claimed that once gunfire erupted, Harris worked to help Sullivan get away instead of shielding her three children, who were inside the room, or aiding the injured officers. Prosecutors also alleged Harris helped Sullivan struggle with Rittmanic over the officer’s gun, which they said was later used to shoot Rittmanic two additional times, killing her.
Defense attorneys disputed those allegations and sought to portray Harris as a mother of four who was “controlled and conditioned” by Sullivan during what they described as an abusive relationship.
The defense argued that Harris should not face the same charges as Sullivan and said it intends to show there was no intent behind her actions, or lack of action, during the shooting.
Harris’ mother, Gloria Harris-Boyd, spoke about the impact of the case on Harris’ children.
“They miss they mom. And it’s very hard because she’s trying to do the best she can over the phone to like make sure they do their homework, calling them. It’s very hard because she has , she has not had no physical contact with them,” Harris-Boyd said.
Attorneys for the state had called at least three witnesses by Tuesday as the trial moved into the evidence phase.
Sullivan has already been convicted and is serving a mandatory life sentence for the death of Rittmanic, as well as an additional 80-year sentence for the attempted murder of Bailey.
Harris is facing the same charges. Court officials said they hope to conclude the trial within two weeks, by Aug. 21.
