SPOKANE, Wash – In March, 38-year-old Darrell Harris was given a sentence of 54 days in jail—time he already served, for the killing of DeShaun Crawford in 2023. Crawford’s mother, Donna Thomas, spoke out about what she calls a grave injustice to her son.
“I’m never going to get over it. He was my only son, the only one to ever have my back,” said Thomas.
Thomas told NonStop Local even with Harris’ sentencing, she’s still waiting for justice, “it was not justice, and there is no way I get justice for my son.”
Court documents said Harris received a sentence of 54 days, which he had already served because he had pleaded guilty. The documents acknowledged that the sentence was shorter than usual, calling it “exceptional” and “below the standard 78-102 month range.”
When reached out for comment, Deputy Prosecutors Preston McCollum and Sharon Hedlund explained in a statement, “We believed there was a possibility that a reasonable trier of fact could more likely than not find that Mr.Harris acted in self-defense or defense of others.”
The documents add that Crawford had what appears to be a deadly weapon”… but it turned out to be this BB gun.
Prosecutors’ statement also said with this evidence, Anticipated defense would have said that he felt threatened by Crawford.
Thomas said she will always feel that the scales of justice did not tip in her favor, “to see some cold-blooded killers get justice, that really hurts because it’s going to happen again. Believe that.”
However, Thomas hoped amends would be made with a higher power: ” He didn’t get justice, but I figured on the final judgment day he would get justice then.”
