PICKFORD, Mich. – An Upper Peninsula man will spend the rest of his life in prison after killing a college student during a police chase in 2021.
Tanner Dunbar Harrison was found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder in January for the death of Katie Robinson, a 20-year-old student and hockey player at Lake Superior State University.
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On Tuesday, March 24, Harrison was sentenced to 60-90 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections.
It happened June 17, 2021, in Pickford, roughly 20 miles south of Sault Ste. Marie.
Authorities said they received multiple 911 calls reporting a Ford F-350 driving aggressively and running cars off the road. At one point, the driver allegedly threw a tire iron at another vehicle, then chased after it.
A Chippewa County Sheriff’s deputy attempted a traffic stop, but the truck continued to speed. The chase ended when Harrison reportedly rear-ended Robinson’s car at nearly 90 mph.
She died at the scene.
Harrison was reportedly out on bond in three separate cases at the time.
After a five-day trial, Harrison was convicted of second-degree murder.
Why it took this long
The case took nearly five years to reach trial. The prosecutor’s office said the delay was due to injuries Harrison sustained in the crash, combined with him being ruled incompetent to stand trial -- delaying proceedings for nearly two years.
After prosecutors determined he was competent, a second-degree murder charge was authorized.
Honoring Katie Robinson’s legacy
A memorial girls’ hockey tournament is now held annually in Robinson’s honor. More information can be read here.
Proceeds support a scholarship fund and the Diane Peppler Resource Center, a shelter for survivors of domestic or sexual violence.