Harris was an infantryman with the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, and trained at Fort Benning, Georgia, before he joined the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in July 2019. He was promoted from specialist to corporal following his death. His awards and decorations include two Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. Harris graduated Air Assault School in 2019.
He was last heard from the night of Dec. 17 after he headed from Fort Drum to Watertown to meet fellow soldier Mellish for "some type of vehicle exchange," officials said. Township firefighters discovered Harris with a gunshot wound to his head on Dec. 19, a day after he was reported missing from Fort Drum. Firefighters were on their annual Santa ride through the township when they discovered the scene.