High School Dean Who Lived Secret Life in Latin Kings Gang Learns His Fate After Shooting Student

A high school dean who lived a secret life as a member of the Latin Kings street gang in Boston was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison on federal racketeering charges after an earlier conviction in the shooting of a student in 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Shaun "Rev" Harrison, 63, was sentenced to 18 years and 2 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in August to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, also known as RICO conspiracy, the department said.

He had previously been convicted in state court in 2018 of charges related to the attempted murder of a student and was sentenced to about 25 years in state prison. Here's what you need to know about this shocking case.

Harrison has worked as an academic dean at English High School in Boston since 2015, the department said. At the same time, he was a member of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, otherwise known as the Latin Kings street gang. He was known as "Rev" or "King Rev" and used his position to recruit at-risk students into the gang, the department said.

Harrison had the students sell marijuana and other drugs in the high school and turn the money over to him. "Shaun Harrison led a double life — using his position as a high school dean to engage in violence and recruit at-risk youth into a violent criminal enterprise," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston Division, in a statement

The department did not identify the student Harrison shot but described him as "bravely doing the right thing and rejecting a life of crime." Harrison thought in March 2015 that the student he recruited to sell drugs had stolen money from him, wanted to get out of the gang and tell the police about the operation, the department said. 

Harrison met the student on March 3, 2015, and shot him in the back of the head with a handgun at point blank range, the department said. Surveillance video captured the shooting.

The student lived but has partial face paralysis, neuropathy in his neck and face, and permanent hearing loss, among other injuries, the department said. Harrison was arrested and charged in Suffolk Superior Court with crimes related to the attempted murder.

In 2018, Harrison was convicted and sentenced to state prison. While there, he continued to associate with Latin Kings members. In December 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Harrison and other Latin Kings gang members on racketeering conspiracy and other charges.

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Harrison was given credit for 8 years and 2 months of time served. After completing his federal sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release, the department said. "Today's sentence ensures he will stay in prison and off our city streets for a significant period of time," Bonavolonta said in a statement.

"The convergence of gangs, guns, and drugs are a serious threat to our communities which the FBI and our law enforcement partners are working hard every day to address."