The victim in the shooting that occurred shortly after 2 a.m. Friday, April 17, on Park Row Avenue in Dallas has been identified as 21-year-old Paul Dean Harris, according to the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Medical Examiner records list Harris’ manner of death as homicide and note the official time of death as 2:45 a.m. on April 17 at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
Some sources are reporting that Harris’ death is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
According to Dallas Police Department records, Harris was shot around 2 a.m. on April 17 in the 1800 block of Park Row Avenue. Police did not publicly identify Harris at the time, saying only that the victim was “a man who presented as female.”
Stacee Wiley, identifying herself as Harris’ mother, has started a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral expenses. She wrote, “Paul Dean Harris III was my baby boy out of three children, and he meant the world to me. He acted just like me and always kept me on my toes, bringing so much joy into my life. Losing him so suddenly has left a hole in my heart that can never be filled.
“Paul was a people person — he had his flaws, but his heart was big. Everywhere he went, he made all types of friends,” she continued. “If you were ever sad or feeling down, he would lift you up and give you hope. My baby was truly a special kind.”
Wiley notes her son had no insurance and that she is a single woman who works full time, “and the cost of funeral expenses is more than I can manage on my own,” especially on such short notice. She is asking for donations in order to “give him the farewell he deserves.”
The investigation into Harris’ murder is ongoing and is documented under case number 054325-2026. Police ask that anyone with information regarding this shooting contact Det. Adam Joslin by calling 214-649-2790 or via email at Adam.Joslin@DallasPolice.gov.
— Tammye Nash