UNC Campus Lockdown: Suspect Apprehended in Armed
Second UNC Campus Lockdown in Just Over Two Weeks
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Chapel Hill Police Department has identified a suspect linked to the unsettling “armed and dangerous person” alert that sent shockwaves through UNC’s Campus last Wednesday. This incident led to a campus lockdown, leaving everyone on edge.
The suspect, Mickel Deonte Harris, a 27-year-old resident of Durham, was apprehended in the 300 block of Formosa Lane on account of outstanding warrants associated with a road rage incident that occurred on September 5th. Police wasted no time confirming that Harris was the individual connected to the recent campus lockdown and gun scare. His arrest took place at the Greenfield Complex, just a short 10 to 12-minute drive from the Chapel Hill campus.
According to UNC police, the ordeal began when an alarming campus alert was sent out at 12:45 p.m. The trigger for this alert was a troubling incident at a bagel shop within the student union, where witnesses reported Harris brandishing a firearm and menacing an employee.
UNC Police Chief Brian James provided details of the incident during a news conference. He stated, “According to witnesses, a suspect confronted an employee of Alpine Bagel, which is inside the union, displayed a firearm, and threatened the employee.” Understandably, this sent shockwaves across campus.
In response to queries about why the “all clear” alert was issued before Harris was apprehended, Chief James clarified, “We did a number of sweeps on the grounds of campus, we thoroughly searched the campus perimeter and were confident that the suspect was not within the campus boundaries.”
ABC11 Breaking News crews on the scene noted that the Greenfield Complex appeared to be where Harris’ mother resides, shedding some light on his whereabouts at the time of his arrest.
Harris, unfortunately, has a lengthy history of run-ins with the law, dating back at least to 2013, according to information gathered by ABC11. The Chapel Hill Police Department is leading the investigation into his recent activities.
The incident that initially landed Harris on the radar occurred on September 5th in Chapel Hill, at the intersection of Old Durham Road and Scarlett Drive. Chapel Hill Police Chief Celisa Lehew explained that an investigation into this incident led to charges against Harris for what she described as an “assault-related incident.” These charges include pointing a gun, communicating threats, and going armed to the terror of the public.
Following his arrest, Harris was taken into custody at the Chapel Hill Police Department and subsequently placed in a squad car, presumably en route to the Orange County Jail. At this point, officers are still piecing together the motive behind his actions on the UNC campus.
This alarming incident marks the second time in just three weeks that the university and campus police have been compelled to issue a Carolina Alert and lock down the campus. A mere sixteen days prior, on August 28th, the campus community was shaken when a student allegedly shot and killed one of his professors.
University of North Carolina graduate student Tailei Qi faces charges and indictment for the murder of Associate Professor Zijie Yan in Caudill Labs. It’s worth noting that the weapon Qi allegedly used has yet to be recovered, a concerning aspect of this case that continues to weigh on the UNC police and the campus community.
In recent weeks, the UNC campus has been grappling with a series of disturbing incidents, highlighting the pressing need for heightened security measures and a collective effort to address issues related to violence and weapon culture on campus. As the semester unfolds, the university and its community are left hoping for a return to a sense of normalcy and safety.
By: M Z Hossain, Digital Journalist
