A Philadelphia man who laid in wait, stabbed, and ran over a former Wendy’s co -worker repeatedly was found guilty by a Bucks County jury of murdering a 31 year-old man, Thursday.
Dominique Isaac Harris, 40, was found guilty of first-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime. The jury deliberated for about two hours before returning with the verdict.
During the 4-day trial before Common Pleas Judge Raymond F. McHugh, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin McElroy outlined to the jury the brutality of Harris’s killing of Michael Pickens, a former co-worker at a Wendy’s restaurant in Bensalem, a spokesperson for the Bucks County DA’s office said.
An employee of the beverage store told police that when arriving for work they observed large pools of what appeared to be blood. Additionally police located, a cell phone, blood stained clothing, a Wendy’s hat, blood stained paperwork, duct tape and other items, court records show.
Through video surveillance investigators observed the attack of the victim stabbed several dozen times, according to police. Subsequently the suspect went back to his vehicle and ran the victim over with his car, police said.
Police reviewed additional video footage from the Wendy’s Restaurant located at 2041 Street Road where he was taking out the garbage and then approached by the suspect later identified to be Harris.
Through the investigation, detectives identified Pickens as the possible victim in the attack and discovered that he previously had been involved in a fight with Harris. Detectives also learned that Harris owned a silver Infiniti. The vehicle was entered into the National Crime Information Center database and later that night, Philadelphia Police spotted the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Harris was behind the wheel. During the stop, police observed blood outside the vehicle and a large amount of blood in the backseat but did not locate the victim. Harris had his right hand bandaged with gauze, concealing a large cut. Harris was arrested that night
Crime Scene Bensalem Beer & Soda
Credit: Nicolette Silva
At around 10 am the following morning Police discovered the body Pickens body close to the Cornwells Train Station park and ride, according to court records.
An autopsy later showed that Harris was stabbed 46 times, with more than half to his head and neck area and some so deep that they pierced his lungs. Police reviewed video surveillance investigators observed the attack of the victim stabbed several dozen times.
Subsequently the suspect went back to his vehicle and ran the victim over with his car, police said at least two times.
“Dominique Harris was unrelenting, this was personal,” McElroy told the jury during closing arguments.
Forensic evidence matching both the victim and defendant was found at the beverage center parking lot, inside the vehicle and the train station.
The Bensalem Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office investigated this case, with the assistance of the Philadelphia Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin McElroy prosecuted this case.
Sentencing was deferred to a later date.
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