Teen Sentenced to 25 Years in Fatal Chicago DUI

Marquis Harris, 18, pled guilty to first-degree murder in the DUI-related death of Marciea Adkins. Harris was sentenced on Friday to 25 years in prison for killing Adkins, 42, a Chicago police dispatcher.

According to police, Harrison left a party around 6 a.m. on July 10, 2011 when he reportedly observed a driver leave a Range Rover idling while paying a parking meter on West North Avenue. Prosecutors say that while high on ecstasy, marijuana and vodka, Harrison jumped into the vehicle and took off. A police officer pulled Harrison over after seeing the vehicle run a red light, but the driver allegedly backed into the officer’s squad car almost striking two officers before driving away.

Harrison allegedly tried to evade officers through Bucktown before running a stop sign and striking Adkins’ vehicle. He reportedly ran from the crash but was arrested a few blocks from the scene. Adkins was on her way home from her overnight shift as a Chicago police dispatcher.

Tests at Northwestern Memorial Hospital showed a BAC of .186. Although 16 at the time of the crash, Harrison was charged as an adult with murder and burglary to a vehicle. He has been held on $1 million bond since his arrest at Cook County Jail.

25 years for teen in fatal DUI crash during chase, www.chicagotribune.com, October 12, 2012