Marching band dad who went missing before custody hearing lured to his death by mother of his child, 2 others: Police

Left: Steven Harris IV (Southern University Marching Band Facebook); top right: Location in Pond, Mississippi, where Harris’ body was found in July 2024 (WBRZ/YouTube); Left to right bottom: Allyah Martin, Derek Hollins Jr., Calajia Jack (West Feliciana Parish Sherriff’s Office).

Steven Harris IV, a Southern University student and 20-year-old father who recently went missing, was shot multiple times after a trio of people — including the mother of Harris’ child — allegedly lured him from his home in Louisiana and killed him in Mississippi .

Harris was a sophomore at Southern University studying criminal justice and was a member of the school’s marching band known as the Human Jukebox. He was first reported missing by family members on July 17. His disappearance struck his family as particularly odd since he was scheduled to attend a custody hearing with the mother of his child, Allyah Martin, 21, the very next day, according to local CBS affiliate WAFB .

Harris never showed up to the July 18 hearing. His body was found on July 23 with multiple gunshot wounds near Pond, Mississippi, in Wilkinson County, ABC affiliate WBRZ reported. The coroner told the station it appeared his body had been there for at least a week.

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According to the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office, it was Martin and two others, Derek Terrell Hollins, 21 and Calajia Jack, 20, who conspired to kill Harris. All three have been arrested and are facing charges in Louisiana of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder .

In Mississippi, police in Wilkinson County have charged the group with first-degree murder and an extradition process is reportedly underway between the states. Hollins is also charged with possession of a machine gun in Louisiana. Hollins was extradited on Monday, NBC affiliate WVLA reported.

More charges may be forthcoming and an investigation is still underway. Prosecutors did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

West Feliciana Parish sheriff Brian Spillman told NBC affiliate WLBT that investigators had developed “strong evidence” that Hollins, Jack and Martin arranged to kill Harris.

Spillman accused the group of using “a Glock handgun with a switch that made it capable of firing in full auto mode to kill Mr. Harris.”

“We’re aware that Mississippi authorities are pursuing charges in this case, however, we believe the plan to commit this crime was hatched here; and the initial phases leading up to Steven’s death began here in West Feliciana Parish. In consultation with the District Attorney, our investigators submitted affidavits for these charges and warrants were signed here today. We will continue to work with Mississippi authorities to present a case that will ensure justice is served for the death of Steven Harris,” Spillman told the outlet on July 25.

Meanwhile, Steven Harris’ mother, LaSonia Harris, told WAFB she believes “his demise was set up” after her son was picked up from his family’s West Feliciana home by someone in an unfamiliar car. “I’m distraught from losing my son. The circumstances for which I lost my son. I’m confused about why did it have to come to this. I’m hurt because I felt like this was an intentional attempt to hurt me and my family and I’m angry because it was unnecessary,” she said. Anthony Kenney, a former marching band member at Southern University, told local NBC affiliate WVLA that Harris was loved by many. Kenney described him as an “amazing young man, very intuitive, [a] great musician, great friend and leader and colleague amongst his friends.”

Harris’ family has set up a GoFundMe to offset funeral expenses.

Bond was set at $350,000 for Martin, $450,000 for Hollins and $365,000 for Jack. Hollins and Jack are from St. Francisville, Louisiana. Martin is from Zachary, Louisiana. Jack and Martin are awaiting extradition.

Harris and Martin had each previously filed a complaint against the other alleging physical abuse, WBRZ reported. They shared custody over their now nearly 2-year-old child who was mostly living with Martin and the outlet reported that Harris had previously asked a judge to hold Martin in contempt of court after she moved to Texas without notifying Harris, a violation of the couple’s custody agreement.

Regarding the domestic violence accusations, WBRZ reported that both Martin and Harris filed temporary restraining orders against each other in 2022. Martin had claimed Harris had kicked her while she was asleep and then poured motor oil on her car and attacked her. Harris responded with his own restraining order and said he ignored her when she tried to wake her up, and then she threw glass at the wall. He said Martin locked herself in her car and later destroyed his instruments. Harris also claimed in 2022 that Martin went to his band director and attempted to spread rumors and lies about him to get his scholarship revoked.

Harris’ mother LaSonia Harris told WBRZ she grew suspicious of Allyah Martin’s involvement in her son’s disappearance after a troubling conversation. LaSonia Harris alleged the young woman told her that her son was located in the same spot where his cellphone had last been pinged.

But only LaSonia Harris, the police, and LaSonia’s husband knew of the last location, the woman said, adding that Harris and Martin were not on speaking terms.

Harris’ mother also said someone told her that her son had been invited to a party in Centreville, Mississippi, before he went missing though none of his friends had any idea that he planned on going to that party.

A request for comment from the district attorney’s office in West Feliciana was not immediately returned to Law&Crime on Monday.

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