In the early morning hours of a February Sunday in North Augusta, South Carolina, a family gathering took a tragic turn, leaving one man dead and his nephew facing criminal charges. Thirty-two-year-old Marco Wendell Harris was fatally shot on February 15, 2015, at the Fox Terrace Apartments. The incident unfolded around 12:30 a.m. following what authorities have described as a possible unintentional shooting.
Earlier in the evening, Marco Harris and his 21-year-old nephew, Ezekiel
Harris, had been at a family event where both had been drinking. Altercations involving Marco led to the decision that he and his nephew should leave the gathering. The two departed in Ezekiel's truck, but a dispute erupted between them while they were in the vehicle. It was during this altercation that a single gunshot was fired, striking Marco in the chest.
Law enforcement and emergency services were called to the scene, where Marco Harris was pronounced dead. The Edgefield County Coroner's Office later confirmed through an autopsy that the cause of death was injuries sustained from the gunshot wound. Investigators recovered the firearm used in the shooting as well as the bullet from the scene.
Ezekiel Harris was arrested at the apartment complex and taken to the Edgefield County Detention Center. He was initially charged with using a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. While the Edgefield County Sheriff's Office initially treated the case as an unintentional shooting based on evidence and witness statements, they also indicated that the investigation was ongoing. Authorities noted that additional charges could be filed pending the results of forensic reports. Ezekiel Harris was later released on bond.
