MILWAUKEE — MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Police Department is calling the public for information that may help find missing 3-year-old Major Harris. Police confirmed on Tuesday during a press briefing that Harris remains missing, more than three days after a statewide AMBER Alert was issued for him.
Milwaukee Police Inspector Paul Formolo said during the briefing that last Thursday, Oct. 14, officers were dispatched to a home in the 2600 block of North 37th where they found a deceased female, later identified as Mallery Muenzenberger, the mother of Major Harris. She died from multiple gunshot wounds, police said Tuesday.
MPD's investigation later identified Jaheem Clark as a person of interest. Milwaukee Police approached a house on the 5400 block of North 31st Street on Sunday that was believed to be housing Clark. Shortly after arriving there, officers heard at least two gunshots from inside the house.
Officers entered the house and located Clark's body. He had died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. No officers fired their weapons while on the scene, police said.
Formolo said on Tuesday that Clark is now a suspect in Muenzenberger's death.
On Monday, police found Clark's missing vehicle near a laundromat in the area of North Sherman Boulevard and West Villard Avenue, which is not far from Havenwoods State Forest .
Police continued that they believe Harris and Muenzenberger arrived in Milwaukee around Oct. 9, based on interviews and evidence found at the North 37th address.
The investigation took longer than expected because Muenzenberger is not from Milwaukee and her identity had to be verified, police said.
Milwaukee police as well as local, state and federal agencies conducted searches for Harris throughout the state and the City of Milwaukee.
Formolo said on Tuesday that Harris was last seen on Oct. 9 in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee police are now asking the public if anyone had contact with Clark from Oct. 9 through Oct. 17 or information on Harris' whereabouts.
The director of the Office of Violence Prevention, Arnitta Holliman, said during the briefing that they are extremely concerned about Harris and need the community's help to find him.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 933-4444 or to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 Tips App.
Community's search for Major Harris
Those interested in joining the search were asked to gather at the forest at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Community advocate Vaun Mayes asked people to head to North Sherman Boulevard and West Florist Avenue.
Police search teams could also be seen canvassing McGovern Park Monday afternoon. Family, friends and community advocates searched the park as well as parts of Havenwoods State Forest and the area around 37th and Clarke, where police say the boy was last seen.
Major's father, Carlton Harris Jr., traveled to Milwaukee to be closer to the investigation. He met with investigators at the Sojourner Family Peace Center over the weekend, but he said he left with more unanswered questions.
Carlton said detectives contacted him, and told him to meet them so they could update him on where the investigation stands.
TMJ4 spoke with Carlton Harris Jr., Major's father over the phone, and he told us he does not know why Major and Major's mother were in Milwaukee. He said they are both from the La Crosse area.
He is the proud father of four kids. He describes his youngest son, Major, as being energetic. "Always happy," Carlton cried. "He lights up every time he sees me."
Carlton said Major's mom said she needed help. The last time he spoke to her was a couple weeks ago.
Major's mother was identified by the Medical Examiner's Office as 25-year-old Mallery Muenzenberger.
He said he recently moved to West Virginia to better his life, and was working towards having Major live with him.
"Put myself in a situation where I'm able to have my own place to bring Major because she needed help," Carlton said.
