A teenager has been indicted for first degree murder – and was served with a charge of second degree murder on his birthday.
Michael Lee Harrell was indicted for second degree murder by a Columbus County Grand Jury, according to the sheriff’s office. He was already in custody for the July 10 stabbing of David Len Ward, 30, at Ward’s Rico Road home.
Harrell reportedly drove Ward to Columbus Regional and left him at the emergency room around 3 a.m. He was dead on arrival, and had sustained multiple stab wounds.
A short time later, the sheriff’s office said, Columbus County 911 received a call from the then-17 year old Harrell who advised that he “had stabbed someone.” Deputies and Lake Waccamaw Police found him near the victim’s home in the 1300 block of Rico Road.
At the victim’s residence, deputies found signs of “an altercation” as well as the Chevrolet Tahoe with a blood-stained interior that had been used to transport Ward.
Harrell was held in the New Hanover Juvenile Detention Center since he was 17 when he was arrested. When the true bill was returned by the grand jury, he was served as an adult. His bond was set at $500,000.
A motive in the slaying has not been released.
Harrell listed his home address as 103 Lake Tree Blvd., Spring Lake.
