Wisconsin Rapids Man Held on $1 Million Bail After Allegedly Killing His Father on Halloween
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN — A 34-year-old man accused of killing his father on Halloween night is being held on $1 million cash bail, according to Wood County court documents.
Randall E. Harris Jr. was arrested on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of his father, Randall E. Harris Sr., after police discovered the victim’s body in the basement of a Wisconsin Rapids home.
Police Respond to Disturbance, Discover Homicide Scene
According to a probable cause statement filed November 3, officers were dispatched to the 500 block of 11th Street North shortly after receiving a call from a woman reporting a loud disturbance and what she believed were gunshots.
When officers arrived, they found a man in a neighbor’s driveway with a six-inch head wound, who told police that Harris Sr. might be dead in the basement and that Harris Jr. was responsible.
Inside the home, police discovered Randall Harris Sr. deceased in the basement. He was found seated on the floor with a deep laceration across his forehead and a large pool of blood nearby. A wallet containing Randall Harris Jr.’s identification was located beside the victim.
Witness Accounts Detail Violent Confrontation
The woman who called police said she was awakened by the sound of gunshots from the basement. Another man inside the home reportedly went downstairs to check and quickly returned, being pushed back upstairs by Harris Jr. moments later.
According to court documents, Harris Jr. then grabbed a large knife from a kitchen drawer and attempted to stab the other man before retreating to the basement. That man escaped the house and was later found injured in the driveway.
Police soon located Harris Jr. driving nearby, stopped his vehicle, and took him into custody. Investigators noted cuts on his hands consistent with a physical altercation.
Suspect Claims Self-Defense in Father’s Death
During questioning, Harris Jr. allegedly told investigators that he and his father had been fighting and that his father attacked him first. Authorities have not disclosed what led to the confrontation or whether any weapons were recovered from the scene.
Wood County Circuit Judge Nicholas Brazeau Jr. set Harris Jr.’s bail at $1 million and scheduled his next court appearance for November 11.
The case remains under active investigation by the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.
Police say this marks one of the city’s most disturbing homicide cases in recent memory, with officers emphasizing their ongoing efforts to piece together the events that led to the Halloween night killing.
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