Police: Lenny Harris Died of Gunshot Wounds

Alexandria community activist Lenny Harris, whose body was recovered over the weekend from a well more than 20 feet deep in Fort Washington, died of gunshot wounds, authorities said Monday.

Harris, a Del Ray resident, had been missing since at least September with Prince George's County police joining Alexandria police in looking into his disappearance. The case is now a homicide investigation, and there have been no arrests.

Police were led to the well after receiving an anonymous phone call indicating that a body might be found there. Prince George's Police Chief Mark Magaw said investigators are trying to determine the identity of the caller, saying in response to a reporter’s question that the killer may have “conscience problems.”

At a Monday morning press conference at Prince George's County Police Headquarters, law enforcement officials described the difficult process of excavating the site where Harris' body was found.

Hank Stawinski, who oversees the police forensic science and intelligence bureau for Prince George's County, detailed a process involving special bags to prevent the brick well from collapsing, calling in heavy-duty dirt diggers and needing worker contamination suits, among other things.

The well on Old Fort Road northeast of Fort Washington was largely isolated and in a somewhat rural area. The entire operation took 53 hours, according to Stawinski.

“He was an integral part of the city,” Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook said of Harris during the press conference. Cook added that Harris was “committed to helping the community” and Alexandria was “in distress” when the community discovered that Harris was missing.

Private donors have established a reward fund at Virginia Commerce Bank. Prince George's Police Media Relations Director Julie Parker noted that between the private fund and county crime solvers money, the current reward is $38,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the Harris case.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund can go to any  branch and make a donation. , located at 2300 Mount Vernon Ave., in Alexandria, also accepts donations for the fund.

Related Topics: Lenny Harris and Prince Georges County Police