Prior convicted felon found guilty of murder for killing homeowner during robbery

A Sacramento jury has convicted a man for killing a homeowner during a robbery in 2022. The decision was announced by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office.

On August 15, 2024, Kailin Harris was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm.  The jury found true the special circumstance of murder during the course of a burglary and the allegation that Harris personally used a firearm causing death.  Harris was also convicted of three counts of tampering with a vehicle.

On January 17, 2022, Harris was tampering with vehicles near the victim’s house and taking property from them. Harris then went into the victim’s backyard, entered a back shed and stole multiple firearms. When the victim was awoken by a ring camera notification, he confronted Harris as he fled the scene with the victim’s property. Harris then shot the victim two times, killing him, before fleeing the scene. Harris was arrested on January 27, 2022. At the time of the murder, Harris was a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.

An allegation that Harris has a prior strike conviction for attempted burglary will be determined at the sentencing hearing.

Harris faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.  Sentencing is set for September 26, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in Department 20 before the Honorable Michael Sweet.