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Boxing icon fatally shot at home near Ocoee; grandson named as suspect, given no bond

By Jason Kelly, Samantha Manning and Sarah Wilson
By Jason Kelly, Samantha Manning and Sarah Wilson

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The suspect accused of shooting and killing his own grandfather went before an Orange County judge for the first time Saturday.

Lucius Harris was found shot dead on Florence Vista Boulevard in Ocoee on Friday.

His family was emotional after learning the victim's grandson had been arrested in the case.

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A judge decided Saturday that Lucien Harris, 31, will be held in jail without bond.

He was booked on first-degree murder charges after being accused of killing his grandfather.

Deputies started investigating the deadly shooting Friday morning, and Lucien Harris was placed in handcuffs Friday evening.

Steve Harris, the victim's son and the suspect's uncle, said Lucien Harris was living with his grandfather in the house where the shooting happened.

"My father was, like, an icon in the boxing world," said Steve Harris. "Everybody knew him -- all across the world."

He said he and his family almost expected something bad to happen.

"It's not a complete surprise. Not to me," Steve Harris said. "It could have been me. It could have been my other brother in the car, my sister. We all knew something was going to happen eventually, but not my dad."

His grandfather was also known as “Lou,” and he was the owner of Harris Boxing on North Ivey Lane in Orange County.

"He took people from the street and took them right to the Olympics -- and (they won) gold medals, bronze medals. He did it all," Steve Harris said of his father.

He said Lucien Harris was once a boxer, too, but was not successful and had resentment and jealousy because of it.

WFTV News found out that Lucien Harris had a troubled background dating back to 2004, when he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.

Since then, he's also been arrested for having a gun as a convicted felon, armed burglary and grand theft.

His latest arrest was in October 2018, after he was accused of threatening to kill his uncle with a hammer and knife.

His uncle told investigators at the time that Lucien Harris has "schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and does not take medications for his issues," records said.

Lucien Harris was not prosecuted in that case.

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