Kankakee, IL – A jury in Kankakee County has delivered a guilty verdict in a first-degree murder case dating back to 2014, setting the stage for a potential life sentence.
The defendant, John Magee, was convicted of murdering Dearrion Harris, whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 26. According to the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office, the diligent work of the Kankakee Police Department and the prosecution team, led by State’s Attorney Jim Rowe and Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Reedy, was pivotal in securing the verdict. The trial, described as a testament to collaborative law enforcement and legal processes, involved contributions from Coroner Gessner, the victim and witness advocate Shondrea, as well as paralegals and a court clerk who also serves as a computer tech expert.
The case’s resolution comes as a relief to the local community, particularly the victim’s family, who have waited years for justice. Sentencing will occur at a later date, with Magee remaining in custody at the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Department until then. The gravity of the crime leaves Magee facing the possibility of life imprisonment, a sentence that serves both as a measure of accountability and a somber reminder of the incident that shook the community years ago.
