BRADLEY, IL — A jury on Friday convicted Xandria Harris in connection with the 2021 shooting of two Bradley police officers, ending a two-week trial with guilty verdicts on murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. Prosecutors said Harris acted as an accomplice to her boyfriend, Darius Sullivan, when he opened fire on the officers in December 2021.
The shooting killed Sgt. Marlene Ritmanic and severely injured Officer Tyler Bailey, who survived. NBC 5 Chicago reported that the verdict came late Friday after prosecutors and defense lawyers spent the day delivering their closing arguments to the jury.
What Prosecutors Told Jurors
During closing arguments, prosecutors focused on Harris’ testimony and argued that she helped Sullivan carry out the attack. They also showed body camera footage that they said captured Harris holding the magazine for one of the weapons used in the shooting.
According to the prosecution, that evidence contradicted Harris’ claim that she feared for her life and for her children if she did not do what Sullivan demanded. Harris had testified that she concealed the alleged abuse from her family and from police.
Defense Presentation At Trial
Harris’ attorney countered by presenting records she said documented years of diagnoses for depression and anxiety. The defense used that material as part of its effort to explain Harris’ state of mind and challenge the prosecution’s account of her role in the shooting.
The trial lasted two weeks before jurors reached a verdict. The court proceedings centered on whether Harris knowingly helped Sullivan during the attack and on how jurors should weigh her testimony against the video and records presented by each side.
Next Steps After Verdict
The NBC 5 Chicago report did not say when Harris will be sentenced or whether her attorney plans to challenge the verdict. The Bradley police shooting remains one of the most serious criminal cases tied to the December 2021 attack, which left one officer dead and another badly wounded.
Readers looking for updates should check the court handling the case and any later statements from prosecutors or defense counsel. Further details may come from sentencing proceedings or additional filings, but none were provided in the Friday verdict coverage.
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