WBAL.com

Baltimore City Police are investigating after a former city councilman was shot and killed early this morning in what investigators believe was an attempted armed robbery.

Police spokesman Sterling Clifford told WBAL News that Ken Harris, Sr., was pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Clifford said Harris had stopped at the New Haven Lounge, a jazz club in Northeast Baltimore, just before 2 a.m. Harris was visiting the owner who was a friend.

Clifford said Harris went inside to retrieve a cork screw, and when Harris and the owner came out of the bar, they were confronted by three men who were trying to enter the bar in an attempt to rob it.

Clifford said Harris ran to his car, and was shot once in the chest. Clifford said Harris attempted to drive away, but only managed to travel a short distance, before he crashed his car.

Harris was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Clifford said two of the three men made their way into the bar, and took a safe from the building. The third man shot at Harris. He says the bar owner did fire a shot at the men, as they fled the scene.

Harris, 45, was president of the PTA at Leith Walk Elementary School, when he ran for city council in 1999. He represented the fourth district.

Harris gave up his seat last year, after running for council president, in a primary contest won by Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Harris is survived by a wife and two children.

Detectives remain at the scene of the shooting.