Syracuse, New York – A man in Onondaga County was found guilty of second-degree murder on Thursday for the fatal shooting of an 11-month-old girl as she sat in the back of a car. Jesse Outley, 27, was convicted of murder, along with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
The tragic incident took place in April 2021 when the young girl, identified as Dior Harris, lost her life in a shooting that also left an 8-year-old and a 3-year-old injured, according to police reports. The horrifying event unfolded while two women were driving with their children in the backseat.
Chavez Ocasio, the driver of the vehicle, was apprehended shortly after the shooting but did not reveal Outley’s involvement until two years later. Ocasio, who had previously admitted guilt to second-degree attempted murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, provided testimony during the trial proceedings.
After nearly three days of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict, holding Outley accountable for the murder and associated charges. The emotional toll of the case was evident as the community grappled with the senseless loss of a young life and the trauma inflicted upon other innocent children. The outcome of the trial brought a semblance of closure to a devastating chapter for the families affected.