Shooting death of Cedric Cornelius Milligan

Cedric Cornelius Milligan, 53, was shot and killed by a homeowner during an alleged residential burglary in Amarillo, Texas, on June 22, 2023. According to the Amarillo Police Department, Milligan forced his way through the locked rear door of a house in the 1700 block of North Adams Street. The homeowner armed herself and shot him inside the residence.^[1]

Police treated the death as a homicide investigation. Contemporary reporting also examined Milligan's criminal history, including prior convictions for drug possession, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and a sex offense against a child. The reports further linked him to allegations arising from the 1994 shooting deaths of Kenneth Harris and Charles Hervey.^[2]

Shooting

At approximately 5:30 a.m. on June 22, 2023, Amarillo police responded to a reported residential burglary in the 1700 block of North Adams Street. Officers found Milligan's body when they arrived.

The homeowner told investigators that Milligan had broken into her house. Police said the rear door had been locked and that Milligan forced his way inside. The homeowner retrieved a firearm and shot him.

The Amarillo Police Department's Homicide Unit opened an investigation. The supplied reports do not identify the homeowner or document a later charging decision or final legal determination concerning the shooting.

Criminal history

According to records cited by KVII, Milligan had been incarcerated at various times since 1991. His reported convictions included:

• possession of cocaine;
• aggravated robbery;
• aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; and
• aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Milligan was a registered sex offender. The Texas Sex Offender Registry reportedly identified the victim of the sexual assault as a 12-year-old girl.^[2:1]

1994 double-homicide allegations

Milligan was also accused in connection with the January 9, 1994, shooting deaths of Kenneth Harris, 42, and Charles Hervey, 43. The two men were found at approximately 4:50 a.m. in the driveway of Harris's home in the 3000 block of Northeast 26th Avenue. Both had been shot.

According to a criminal complaint, Milligan had seen Harris and Hervey earlier that morning at an Amarillo nightclub. At approximately 4:15 a.m., a newspaper delivery driver reportedly saw Milligan and another person pursuing the victims in a car.

Nine hours after the killings, Milligan allegedly paid cash for two airline tickets and traveled to Dallas with his girlfriend. Because Milligan was unemployed, she questioned him about the large amount of cash and jewelry in his possession. He reportedly replied, "Don't worry about it."

During dinner that evening, Milligan was allegedly wearing a distinctive gold medallion surrounded by diamonds and bearing a bust of Jesus with sunbeams. One of the victims had reportedly worn the same medallion at the nightclub before the shootings.

The supplied materials describe Milligan as having been accused of killing the two men but do not provide the charge, trial history, or final disposition of that case.

Case information

Related 1994 case

See also

• 1994-01-09 Milligan
• 2023-06-22

References