Siler City man killed, arrest made

Posted Thursday, July 6, 2006

 E-mail this page    Printer-friendly page

Bear Creek, NC - At 4:50 PM, on Monday afternoon, Chatham County Deputies responded to 5475 Old US 421 South, Bear Creek in response to an assault call. When deputies arrived they found, Darrle Harris, 38, of 240 Alex Watson Road, Siler City seriously injured from blunt trauma to the head.

Investigators found that Harris and Edwin Pennix, 30, of 96 Colonial Park Road, Staley had some type of argument at that location and resulted in an altercation. Pennix struck Harris in the head with a wooden object during the incident. While Harris was being transported to the hospital, he died from his injuries.

Sheriff's officials are waiting for the results of an autopsy performed Tuesday. It is unclear at this time what the argument was about and if drugs or alcohol was a factor in this case. Harris is the son of James Harris, an employee of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Latisha Allen arrested Pennix and charged him with 1st Degree Murder. He is being held with no bail at the Randolph County jail rather than the Chatham County jail, where Harris' father, James, is a detention officer. He is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on July 19. The case is still under investigation.