College Hill center will reopen after man found shot dead in playground
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By Carrie J. Sidener
Published: May 19, 2008
A neighborhood recreation center will reopen this morning after a man was found shot dead in its playground Monday morning — a shooting that police are not yet calling a murder.
The College Hill Recreation Center at 811 Jackson St. closed Monday while Lynchburg Police investigators canvassed the neighborhood and searched the playground for clues to why Harold Emmanuele Harris, 22, of Lynchburg, was shot to death.
His body was spotted behind the center by a Lynchburg public works employee collecting the morning’s garbage, said Capt. Todd Swisher of the Lynchburg Police Department.
Harris had been released from prison in July for a string of crimes dating back to a January 2003 shooting when he was 17, according to records in Lynchburg Circuit Court.
“We are not calling this a homicide at this point,” Swisher said. “It is a death investigation. At this point it is premature to call it (a homicide). The information we are developing will give us more of an idea of what happened.”
If deemed a homicide, it would be the third in Lynchburg so far this year.
A Lynchburg man was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Super 8 motel on Candlers Mountain Road on April 20, and another city man was stabbed to death on Jan. 1 on Pierce Street after an argument at a New Year’s Eve party. Police have made arrests in both incidents.
On Monday, the public works employee called 911 at 7:46 a.m. to report the body of a man on the ground behind the recreation center. According to a police department news release, Harris appeared to have died from a gunshot wound.
The recreation center is a place for children to come and play on the playground or gather for games of pool and foosball, said Joanne Martin, communications director for Lynchburg. Its activities also include programs for senior adults as well as the neighborhood program, which provides structured play activities from 2:30 to 8 p.m. daily for youth.
“This is very unfortunate,” Martin said. “It did not happen during center hours.”
Investigators put up sheets and screens on the fences around the playground Monday morning to block the body from view, but some of the neighbors already had seen Harris’ body.
One woman on the scene said she knew it was “Fidget” (Harris’ nickname) because she could see his glasses and his face through the makeshift screen. She was looking for someone to tell her if her suspicion was true.
The cries of Harris’ mother, Maria Harris, echoed through the neighborhood when police told her they believed it was her son, and then again when she identified the body.
As investigators canvassed the neighborhood looking for someone who saw or heard something, a man collapsed in the street, sobbing, while a woman stood behind him and wrapped her arms around him in comfort.According to an affidavit filed by a police investigator in the January 2003 shooting, Harris ordered three men parked at the 800 block of Hollins Street to get out of their car. When they refused, he went around to the front of the car and started shooting. The passengers weren’t hurt, but a bullet grazed the driver’s door and the left windshield post.
Harris was sentenced to five years in prison in September 2003 for shooting at an occupied vehicle. The judge suspended three years for an active term of two years, but according to court records, Harris was free by March 2005.
He was convicted in January 2006 for attempted possession of a firearm by a violent felon. He was sentenced to a year in prison for that crime and another year and a half for breaking the terms of his probation on the original shooting conviction.
Harris was released early last summer for good behavior. He was scheduled to be in court again on Thursday for driving while his license was suspended for failure to pay money he owed from his earlier run-ins with the court.
Police are asking that anyone who witnessed the shooting or may have information regarding Harris’ death to call Investigator Glenn Anderson with the Lynchburg Police Department at (434) 455-6179 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900.
Staff writer Chris Dumond contributed.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( EKANE31 ) on May 25, 2008 at 1:51 pm
THANK YOU CKID, THAT WAS VERY NICE OF YOU!
Posted by ( lustudent ) on May 24, 2008 at 12:11 pm
“EKANE31 - What I should have said in the beginning is that my heart does go out to his family and friends.”
That’s all you had to say, Ckid. Not even “Im sorry” althought this is an admisson of error. The fact that you wrote this is a sign that you have changed your stance on this issue.
I’ll forget the name calling and other comments in your recent post that has nothing to do with this article. I realize many people create a vernacular mud fight when they lack a strong argument.
Posted by ( Ckid ) on May 24, 2008 at 10:55 am
lustudent, are you blind or just nieve? Let me try to help you out if I may. First off, I did say I was sorry his life ended up as it did. I stated I was sure he had some good qualities. So I didn’t say he was a scum bum with nothing to offer.
You asked “Does your so called work experience mean you are the all-seeing, all-knowing guru of Lynchburg public safety?” I don’t know, maybe not “all-knowing”, but definately well, very well informed. If you want to write a essay on the battles of Fallujah are you going to ask someone who was actually there or are you going to ask someone who just watched a 3 minute segment of it on the NBC Nightly News about it?
A funny side-note is my wife used to worry about me when I worked in corrections dealing with murderers, rapists, child-molesters - you name it. I used to tell her “heck, I’ve got the safest job in the world. Every inmate there is innocent, and the ones who do declare guilt already killed who they were mad at. Besides that, they’re all Christians and read their Bibles all day long. Just ask ‘em, they’ll tell ya....
You mention there is “no reference to him being in the park at night and there is no reference to him being murdered at this time”. Are you really in college? Here, let me help you again (from the article): �This is very unfortunate,� Martin said. �It did not happen during center hours.� The article states center is open from 2:30 pm until 8 pm. His body was found roughly 7:40 am. You do the math (unless you’re stuggling in that area was well). What do you consider “after hours”. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe he was shot somewhere else and either ran to or was dragged to the park....
As far as calling it a “murder”: Geez, a man was found dead of a gunshot wound. Use some common sense, unless...never mind. They won’t call it a murder or homicide (maybe it was even accidental) until they can determine what caused the shooting as this will determine the type of charges they will persue against the perpetrator.
Seems like I need a dose of knowlege? Seems like someone else is still a little wet behind the ears and needs a dose of reality. You want to provide me with pamphlets to educate me? I think you just need to experience a little more of life to become more educated. A piece of paper that declares you have completed a course of study does not mean you are educated in life. Remember that, always.
Now, for the meantime I am done with this topic. Just stay tuned and we’ll see what facts are further uncovered. I am willing to lay odds that I’m speaking closer to the truth than your rose colored glasses will let you see, but then again, we shall see.
EKANE31 - What I should have said in the beginning is that my heart does go out to his family and friends. I am sorry that you lost a friend, and that a family lost a son, brother, and father. I hope that God will hold them in the palm of his hand and give them strength and comfort, and perhaps some knowlege and wisdom will come out of tragedy to them.
Posted by ( EKANE31 ) on May 23, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Damalama, you’ve made one of the most ignorant statements I’ve ever heard anyone say. “Build a wall around the area and let them kill each other so crime would be non-existent!”, now tell me how would crime be non-existent when you have criminals in every neighborhood? Don’t assume for one minute that all the criminals in Lynchburg live in that area! I’m willing to bet that you have just as many of them living in your neighborhood now, only difference is that they are not so open with their crimes. Their undercover criminals! Your comment makes you sound racist due to the fact that the downtown area population is mainly black. Your comment didn’t insult anyone but you because it let everyone who reads these comments know just how ignorant you really are! You really need to get a life and keep those stupid comments to yourself!
Posted by ( lustudent ) on May 23, 2008 at 9:38 am
I seemed to have lost sight of the facts presented in the article after bickering with you, Ckid.
The article makes no reference to Harold Harris being in the park at night. His body was found in the morning. There’s not even a reference to him having been murdered at this time. Police said it’s “premature” to consider it a homicide now.
So what were you saying about him being in the park late at night? What vices do you want to label the 22-year-old with now?
Posted by ( lustudent ) on May 23, 2008 at 9:19 am
Ckid, your reasoning, compassion and moral stance on this issue is about as refreshing as indigestion.
“I’m a security guard, a police officer, a security officer...” Well...kudos for you. Does that make you more qualified to comment on this particular individual? Does your so called work experience mean you are the all-seeing, all-knowing guru of Lynchburg public safety.
I think not.
And don’t be confused. This is not judging. It’s analyzing your argument, which lacks facts and is a gross generalization of people and this community.
Another person even left a comment on playing basketball with the victim late at night. Seriously, what else is there for young people to do at night besides sleep?
There are social issues that plague communities. Issues so vast and complex in meaning, that it would take hours to discuss the reasoning behind them.
Seems like you need a dose of knowledge.
Seeing that space is limited in this forum, please email me so members of the community may provide you with pamphlets to educate you on this matter.
Posted by ( EKANE31 ) on May 22, 2008 at 9:47 pm
ckid, lustudent was right you should not judge! I used to live in that area and I used to live across the street from Harold and his family. everybody knows that the neighborhood went to crap due to drugs & so-called gang violence but not everyone in that area is bad. as for harold being out on the playground late at not does not mean that he was up to no good. we used to hang out at the center after hours all the time watching the guys play basketball. sometimes we would be out there until 2am or 3am. Harold was not what you could call a model citizen in his past but he was trying to do right for his future. I known him his whole life, he had a very good heart even though he’s had past problems with the law. you should stop judging him for what he had done in the past and feel saddened that he can’t be around for his children in order to show them a better way of life so they won’t travel down that same road. may God bless his family and watch over them!
Posted by ( damalama ) on May 22, 2008 at 7:58 pm
oh boy i am so glad it’s open that is such a GREAT part of the city, and a great place for the ignorants to gather and cause trouble, maybe they should see just how many times police are called there. it’s almost funny that woman says stuff like that never happens around here.....are you serious? build a wall around that area of lynchburg and don’t tear it down till they finish each other off, crime rates will go non existant.
Posted by ( Ckid ) on May 22, 2008 at 8:13 am
I’ve spent the majority of my life working in corrections, everything from a security gaurd, a youth “boot camp” detention/correction facility, a police officer, and a jail officer. I’ve seen young men (and women) come and go. The majority are repeat offenders and a couple (litterally) do straighten themselves out. Unfortunately, that’s the exception, not the norm.
Yes, perhaps he was straightening his life out, and I’m sure he that’s what he was doing at the playground sometime “after dark hours”. He was probably being a good samaritan and picking up trash left behind.
Why don’t you take a ride to that area of town and tell me what you think. I’ve been there through the course of my duties and I’ll save you the time… He was NOT there picking up trash or explaining to someone how he wanted to turn his life around, nor talking to his preacher for spiritual advice, nor a possible employer (scratch that, not a LEGIT possible employer).
What was the purpose of posting my thoughts you ask? It is what it is, and they are what they are.
Let me also share this thought with you: You say I should not “judge not lest I be judged”, then you notice how “I wasn’t there at choir practice”. Seems like you’re judging me, doesn’t it? And you’re right, I wasn’t there. I don’t sing in a choir, I don’t dance either. I am however a Christian and I do attend BRCC. So please, take your OWN HYPROCRITICAL advice - don’t judge me, and then tell me not to do the same…
Posted by ( freedom ) on May 21, 2008 at 8:27 pm
,,hope this aint one of those gang related drug deals from amhearst h.s.gone bad