Courtney Terrell Dixon, a 38-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on May 22, 2020, in New Bern, North Carolina. The incident occurred on Old Cherry Point Road, where Dixon was found with multiple gunshot wounds. The investigation quickly identified Timothy Harris as the primary suspect in the shooting. Harris, a white male, was apprehended after a high-speed chase through Craven County, during which he struck a marked patrol vehicle.
His wife, Barbara Harris, also attempted to interfere with the arrest by trying to hit patrol cars with her vehicle.
Timothy Harris was charged with an open count of murder, fleeing to elude arrest, and assault with a deadly weapon against a government official, among other charges. He was held without bond. Barbara Harris faced charges of accessory after the fact to murder, two counts of assault on a government official, and obstructing an officer. She was held under a $1.2 million bond.
The motive behind the murder was revealed during the court proceedings. It was determined that the altercation between Harris and Dixon stemmed from a dispute over control of their area for drug sales. On May 22, 2020, Harris shot Dixon approximately eight times. In January 2023, Timothy Harris pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20-25 years in prison. He also received a maximum of 32 months of supervised probation for felony assault with a weapon against a government official.
Courtney Terrell Dixon's death left a profound impact on his family and community. During the plea hearing, Dixon's mother and sister delivered emotional victim impact statements, expressing their desire for Harris to receive the maximum sentence. Although the sentence was slightly less than what the family had hoped for, the District Attorney expressed satisfaction with the outcome, believing that the plea and sentence were appropriate given the evidence.
