Man charged with felony after he allegedly threatened worker at UNC campus bagel shop
A man is facing a Class I felony charge one day after reports of an “armed and dangerous person” sent UNC into lockdown for a second time this semester.
Mickel Deonte Harris, 27, was arrested in Chapel Hill on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Orange County Jail records showed that Harris has been charged with assault, possessing a firearm on educational property and communicating threats.
Harris allegedly used a 9 mm gun to threaten a supervisor at a bagel shop on the UNC campus, according to search warrants. The warrants also state that the supervisor called an employee to fire her before Harris showed up.
During the search of a Chapel Hill apartment and a white Hyundai Sonata on Wednesday, law enforcement found a 9 mm ProMag magazine, 13 rounds of ammunition, two purchase receipts, a gun lock, and two firearm rebate forms.
During his first court appearance Thursday afternoon, Harris was charged with three Class 1 misdemeanors with a maximum of a 120-day sentence; a Class 2 misdemeanor with a maximum 60-day sentence; a Class I felony with a maximum sentence of 24 months; and a Class A1 misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of 150 days.
His bond was set at $50,000 by Orange County District Court Judge Hathaway Pendergrass. The state asked for a bond increase from the original $10,000 due to his prior arrests for similar crimes.
Harris’ case will be reviewed Monday.
Public personnel information released to The News & Observer by UNC shows Harris was employed in the university’s housekeeping services department as a part-time employee beginning in July. His employment ended Wednesday, according to the file.
Alert Carolina sends campus into lockdown
At 12:54 p.m. Wednesday, UNC issued an emergency Alert Carolina notification that stated there was an “armed and dangerous person on or near campus” and urged people to shelter in place. The alert followed a 911 call at 12:45 p.m.
UNC Police Chief Brian James said in a Wednesday press conference that the suspect threatened an employee at the Alpine Bagels on campus with a gun.
According to Assistant District Attorney Maren Hardin, around 12:44 p.m. Wednesday near the student union, one of the first officers on the scene saw numerous people running in all directions. Hardin alleged that Harris told an employee at Alpine Bagel in the student union that he would “blow your (expletive) head off.”
Although police have not confirmed the nature of the relationship between Harris and the employee, James said he believes the two were somehow connected prior to the incident.
The campus went into lockdown for nearly an hour and a half. At 2:10 p.m., the all-clear was issued by UNC Police.
On Aug. 28, a week into the fall semester, the UNC campus was also placed on lockdown after a 34-year-old graduate student, Tailei Qi, allegedly shot and killed associate professor Zijie Yan.
Harris also charged earlier this month
In addition to the charges related to the UNC lockdown, Harris was also charged with assault, communicating threats and going armed to the terror of the public in connection with a similar incident on Sept. 5.
According to an incident report obtained by The News & Observer from Chapel Hill police, Harris allegedly pulled out a handgun at a convenience store in Chapel Hill last week. Until his arrest yesterday, he had an outstanding warrant in relation to the convenience store charges.
In that incident, Harris allegedly shouted “I’m gonna kill you. You don’t know who I am” to a person at the convenience store.
Other charges dropped
In October, Harris was charged with assault by pointing a gun and going armed to the terror of the public. However, in that case, he was also charged with assault by strangulation, according to court documents obtained by The News & Observer. Those charges were dropped by the Durham County District Attorney in January.
On the same day in October, Harris was charged with one count of misdemeanor cruelty to animals.
In February, that case against Harris was similarly dropped, according to court documents.
“Per the Criminal and Infraction Public Record Search, the State was unable to proceed with prosecution in those matters because the victim could not be located and neither the victim or witness appeared in court despite subpoenas being issued,” the Durham County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday in a statement to The News & Observer.
Reporter Korie Dean contributed.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published September 14, 2023 at 8:34 AM.