Man Charged In Fort Lauderdale Double Shooting
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A man accused of shooting two people early Sunday morning near downtown Fort Lauderdale made his first court appearance.
Earvin Harris is charged with one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed weapon.
The shooting happened on SW 2nd Street in the city's Himmarshee Village entertainment district. Witnesses said it happened after they saw several people arguing.
"When you're trying to have a good time and you're in this type of area, you don't expect to hear or see that type of thing. It was very traumatizing," Adrianna Tender said.
Police say Harris did not have a permit to carry a concealed weapon in a bar. Prosecutors pushed for a higher bond of $21,000.
"It's alleged Mr. Harris, this is according to multiple witnesses, Mr. Harris brought a loaded firearm into a club, armed himself, brandished the firearm and when he was trying to be disarmed by other witnesses the firearm discharged striking two victims," said prosecutor Eric Linder.
One person was shot in the knee, the other shot in the pinky.
Harris' defense attorney said this is the first felony charge his client has ever faced and he didn't actually fire the gun intentionally.
"By reading the PC (probable cause affidavit) you see that he didn't shoot the gun, it went off during a struggle and we're asking the bond be reduced to ten thousand dollars," said attorney Steve Melnick.
The judge set bond at $11,000 bond. If Harris is released, he is not allowed to go back to the Himmarshee Village entertainment district and cannot have a gun.
