Sentencing set for previously convicted man found guilty of killing 23-year-old in Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A sentencing hearing has been set for a previously convicted 51-year-old man who was found guilty of first-degree murder after shooting and killing a 23-year-old in Richmond last year.

This sentencing comes after 51-year-old Douglas Harris was convicted of the murder of 23-year-old Manchee Edwards, whose body was found near Richmond Highway last year, according to a release from Colette McEachin, Richmond’s Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Per the release, a person found Edwards' body behind a bush near Richmond Highway in September 2024 and proceeded to call 911.

According to the Richmond Police Department, officers were called to the 200 block of Richmond Highway at 7:12 a.m. on Sept. 26 and found Edwards in the front yard of a building with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police then acquired footage from businesses surrounding the area, which showed Edwards going behind the bushes at 3:35 a.m. that morning with an unidentified man and woman. When the man and woman left the bushes a short time later, Edwards was not with them, the release said.

An autopsy of Edwards' indicated that he had been shot once in the head.

The man and woman were later identified, through an investigation, as Harris and Kellie Johnson. According to the release, Harris claimed he had bought drugs from Edwards, while Johnson admitted that Harris had shot Edwards and forced her to go through his pockets.

Harris asked for a jury trial, which spanned two days in April 2025 and resulted in Harris being convicted of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Harris will be sentenced on both charges in a hearing set to take place on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 2 p.m.

The release from McEachin's office also stated that Harris had been convicted of killing another person in New York before he came to Richmond.