Thursday, August 21, 2008
Published Tuesday, July 22, 2008 in Local
'Horsing around' preceded killing
The Times-Herald
Details emerged Tuesday that shed light on the July 16 shooting that claimed the life of 51-year-old Leon Dennis -- a resident of Senoia.
Dennis, 39-year-old Kip Bernard Harris -- the man now in custody and charged with Dennis' murder -- and at least two other people were hanging out together -- reportedly consuming alcohol -- at 1143 Johnson Road, which runs between Highway 54 and Gordon Road in southeast Coweta, according to Capt. Tony Grant of the Coweta County Sheriff's Office.
The men had a semi-automatic Larson .38 caliber that belonged to a resident of 1143 Johnson Road. Shortly before 2 p.m., Harris got the gun and took the clip out, but there was still a round in the chamber. The two were "horsing around," according to Grant, when Harris fatally shot Dennis once in the head.
"I'm sure Harris thought the gun was unloaded," said Grant.
When Harris -- a convicted felon -- realized what he'd done, he fled the scene since he had improperly possessed a firearm leading up to the incident, according to the captain.
Harris remains at the Coweta County Jail. He's charged with felony murder and convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was denied bond at his first court appearance hearing. Harris' charges could change once the case is reviewed by Coweta's District Attorney's office, according to Grant.
Following the shooting, Harris fled from responding officers. A search dog unit from the Coweta County Prison was called to the scene along with a helicopter from Fayette County, and officers set up a perimeter in the area. After a manhunt of several hours, the intensive search was suspended and ground units continued to search door to door for Harris.
Harris, a resident of 314 Deep South Road, was taken into custody July 17 at his uncle's residence, 93 Deep South Road, after a neighbor notified the sheriff's office.
There has been at least one other arrest relating to this incident. Scotty Antwan Geter was arrested Tuesday afternoon for obstruction after giving false information to the sheriff's office.
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family to both
7/27/2008
just so all of you know he was not running in fear of the police. he was never running from the police and i will leave it at that.
Posted by family to both at 8:53 PM
Race II
7/26/2008
Would you go fishing in a pond were the fish were known not to bite or where you know that you can catch some?
Posted by Fred Smith at 12:55 PM
RACE
7/25/2008
If you're not black you will never know what black men go through with police maybe thats why he ran.Hey white people I bet the police don't set up license and insurance checks in your neighborhood?
Posted by always on the run at 2:19 PM
running from the police
7/25/2008
Why is it that no one sees that HE RAN and hid out!! Black or White or Purple, that makes him a FLIGHT RISK!!!!
Posted by duh at 12:51 PM
KIP HARRIS KILLING
7/24/2008
YES, RACE IS, HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE A FACTOR.PEOPLE, BLACK AND WHITE, STILL CANT SEE PAST COLOR.
Posted by SAME OLD STORY at 8:25 PM
duh
7/24/2008
Why is it that every time someone states the obvious they have to be on the race wagon? No Harris should not have been giving a bond but neither should Vietch. It does all come back to race. That is one of the issues. I am not saying let's overlook the crime but don't just rule out the fact that race factors in the whole band issue. BOTH PEOPLE TOOK SOMEONES LIFE. Both should recieve the same chances, and sentences. You can not say that if Harris was white that he would not have received a bond. You have no way of knowing that. Race still matter, yes even in 2008.
Posted by deal with it at 3:34 PM
never know
7/24/2008
this is about kip not jason veitch,nor race issue it's about the murder that happen at 1143Johnson Road people please stop with this kip ran because he had seen what he had did he didn't know that it was bullet still in the gun and it wasn't like he really wanted to kill the man ,yes he's murder and yes i feel that he shouldn't get a bond but people please don't talk bad about kip because we don't know what was going on when kip drop the gun and ran.
Posted by step at 3:08 PM
cc
7/24/2008
well, Jason didn't run from the police and hide out. So that is my point, Harris ran making him an automatic flight risk for bond. Are you that blind or can you even begin to see that? I don't believe it has anything to do with the color of skin. When people run from the police and searches with dogs and helicopters are put in motion how can a judge not see him as a flight risk? And whether or not it was murder or an accident is still to be determined. Regardless, he should not have ran!! So get off the race wagon, not everything has to do with color!! Even if he was white and ran from the cops he would still be a flight risk and denied bond!
Posted by duh at 1:44 PM
bond
7/23/2008
How can Harris be tried for murder when the detective said it was an accident? He will have to say the same story in court, and why are they trying it in the paper anyway? If an accident let him go.
Posted by eve at 10:23 PM
Duh
7/23/2008
Oh wait I forgot, Kip Harris is black. Yes, i do believe it all depends on the color of your skin. It is my "opinion" that if Kip were white he would have received a bond rather he was a convicted felon or not. If the hispanic male would have murdered Jason instead of the other way around, the latino would still be in jail!!!!!!!!!
Posted by CC at 4:00 PM
Duh
7/23/2008
And Jason Veitch made it known he was itching to shoot someone, so what is your point?
Posted by CC at 3:55 PM
bond
7/23/2008
The reason he was denied bond could be that they had to send the dogs out to get him, so he has shown that he will run. He has given the justice system plenty of reasons to deny bond since the day it happened. Was I the only person that read the article and agrees with the judge that he would be a flight risk? These are two different situations that you are comparing. If the guy had not run to begin with I might feel differently but since he tried to hide from the police and get away, nah, I wouldn't give him the opportunity to run again by granting him a bond.
Posted by duh at 11:08 AM
Bond
7/23/2008
I totally agree.
Posted by B fair at 10:46 AM
Bond
7/23/2008
So why was Kip Harris denied bond and Jason Veitch was given a bond? I understand that Mr. Harris is a convicted felon however MURDER is MURDER!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by CC at 10:29 AM
my uncle
7/27/2008
Well um first off there was no one there besides the three people and the kids. All of you that has posted comments about our family and about BlackJack don't know. I am his niece so I would know. My uncle may have been on drugs, but he was respected as any man is. I am not saying he is all innocent, but the witnesses say it was an accident. He ran because he was on parole and by him having a firearm he was going to jail. SO YEAH. The sentence for VEITCH was not right, but that is how the stupid system is. IF THEY CAN LET HIM OFF WHY CAN'T THEY JUST CHARGE MY UNCLE WITH VOP. KIP GAVE A HELPING HAND TO ANY AND EVERYONE. SOMETHINGS THAT HE DID I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD APPROVE OF. DRUGS IS NOT THE KEY FOR ANYONE. THE WILLIAMSON MURDER IS OVER NOW MY FRIEND WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY SO THAT SUBJECT SHOULD NOT EVEN BE BROUGHT UP. I CARE ABOUT MY UNCLE VERY MUCH BUT DON'T DOWN HIM ON HERE IF YOU COULD NOT TELL IT TO HIM WHEN HE WAS OUT. THEN U SHOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. BLACKJACK IS A GREAT COMMUNITY AND WE ARE A BIG FAMILY. I SEND MY PRAYS TO THE FAMILY OF LEON. HE WAS A NICE PERSON. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted by LABRITT-not you so it don't MATTER at 2:28 AM