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DEKALB COUNTY, GA— Criminal charges have been filed against DeKalb County Police Officer Derrick Harris, Jr., following the deadly July 7 shooting of Seth Jayden Eccles, 19.
Harris, 37, is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct, after Eccles, of Savannah, was fatally shot while being taken into custody. The DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) stated Harris was fired due to violations of laws following a preliminary investigation.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is now leading the probe, which is standard procedure in police-involved shootings.
The GBI stated that preliminary information indicates that, in the early afternoon of July 7, DKPD was investigating an armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, the GBI stated in a news release. During the investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) agents spoke with a person of interest in the armed robbery, later identified as Eccles, a resident of Savannah. After the conversation, law enforcement allowed Eccles to walk away. Law enforcement later discovered an active arrest warrant for Eccles. USPIS agents and DKPD officers again located Eccles, who then ran away and hid in the woods nearby. Law enforcement then began searching for Eccles, the GBI stated.
At about 7 p.m., DeKalb County 911 began receiving calls regarding a suspicious person moving through the backyards of homes on Rammel Way in Avondale Estates, GA. Around 7:45 p.m., Officer Harris located Eccles in the backyard of a home and gave Eccles verbal commands at gunpoint. Eccles complied with Officer Harris’ commands. Officer Harris then took Eccles into custody. During the arrest, Officer Harris fired his gun, hitting Eccles. DKPD officers and EMS provided life-saving efforts on scene. Eccles was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
The GBI will continue to conduct an independent investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be turned over to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution and review.
DeKalb County Police Chief Greg Padrick and DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson issued the following statements concerning the incident:
“This has also been a difficult time for the members
“This incident has had a profound impact on everyone involved. My thoughts and prayers remain with the family of Seth Jayden Eccles as they continue to grieve this tragic loss,” said DeKalb County Police Chief Greg Padrick. “This has also been a difficult time for the members of our department. The men and women of the DeKalb County Police Department remain committed to serving our community with professionalism, integrity, and compassion, and they will continue to serve the people of DeKalb County with honor, service, and partnership each and every day.”
“The death of Seth Jayden Eccles is a tragedy,” DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said. “My heartfelt condolences are with his family and loved ones as they navigate an unimaginable loss. Today’s criminal charges and the termination of our officer reflect our commitment to accountability. We understand no one is above the law and that accountability is essential to maintaining public trust. While this remains an active legal matter, I want our residents to know that DeKalb County is committed to transparency, integrity, and ensuring that our public safety agencies uphold the highest standards of professionalism as they protect and serve.”