Harris Trial Opens. Bradley Shooting, Five Years Later.
Testimony began Friday in the murder trial of Xandria Harris, an Illinois woman accused of helping her boyfriend fatally shoot a police sergeant and critically wound another officer at a hotel nearly five years ago, according to Kankakee County court proceedings.
Harris, 30, did not shoot either officer but faces first-degree murder and attempted murder charges alongside child endangerment counts for her alleged role in the Dec. 29, 2021, shooting at a Comfort Inn in Bradley.
Her boyfriend, Darius Sullivan, was convicted in 2025 and is serving a mandatory life sentence for killing Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and 80 years plus life for the attempted murder of Sgt. Tyler Bailey.
Who Is Xandria Harris?
Harris is described in court reporting as a mother of four. She is from Bradley, Illinois, and was 26 at the time of the shooting. Her boyfriend at the time, Sullivan, was convicted of murder in 2025 and sentenced to natural life in prison for killing Rittmanic, plus 80 years and an additional life term for the attempted murder of Bailey.
Dog Call Turns Deadly for Officer
According to prosecutors, Rittmanic and Bailey went to the hotel to investigate a complaint about dogs left unattended in a vehicle in freezing temperatures. Officers determined the vehicle belonged to Harris and learned her boyfriend, Sullivan, who had outstanding warrants, was with her in the room.
When officers approached the room to issue Harris a citation and arrest Sullivan, prosecutors said Harris initially did not open the door. When the door eventually opened, Sullivan allegedly opened fire, killing Rittmanic and severely wounding Bailey. Prosecutors have also accused Harris of fleeing the scene without helping the wounded officers.
The Trial
Opening statements began Friday with a dispute between attorneys. Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe accused Harris’ defense team of violating a gag order by discussing details of jury selection outside court. Harris’ attorney, Cierra Norris, declined to respond to the allegation, and Circuit Judge Kathy Bradshaw-Elliott allowed the trial to proceed after Harris confirmed she wanted to continue with Norris as her attorney.
“She is not simply the girlfriend of a disgusting murderer,” Norris told jurors. “She is a daughter. She is a mom.”
Norris has argued Harris suffers from battered woman syndrome and that Sullivan was controlling in their relationship, according to Shaw Local. The defense contends Harris should not face the same charges as Sullivan because she did not intend for the shooting to occur.
At least three witnesses testified for the prosecution Friday as the trial moved into its evidence phase, according to ABC7 Chicago. Harris’ mother, Gloria Harris-Boyd, told ABC7 outside the courthouse that the case has been difficult for Harris’ children. “They miss they mom,” she said. “It’s very hard, because she’s trying to do the best she can over the phone… She has had no physical contact with them.”
Rittmanic’s widow, Lyn Stua-Rittmanic, was present in court and was seen wiping away tears during opening statements, according to Shaw Local.
The case has faced repeated delays since 2021, including a change in defense counsel that pushed the trial from its original September 2025 date. Harris was separately found guilty in a bench trial of direct contempt of court after refusing to testify at Sullivan’s trial despite being granted use immunity. She is scheduled to be sentenced on that charge on Nov. 11.
