Elizabethtown murder suspect back in court

ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y. (WCAX) - The Brooklyn man accused of a fatal shooting in Elizabethtown, New York, was back in court again Friday.

Qwavon Harris, 28, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to a charge of second-degree murder in the shooting death of William Ball of Moriah. Police say Ball and Harris allegedly had a fight on Lincoln Pond Road early Monday morning, which resulted in Ball’s murder.

At Friday’s hearing, the prosecution discussed two weapons-related charges but not the second-degree murder charge.

“We had very little time to get ready for a hearing and we wanted to make sure we were able to present with sufficient evidence without going too far beyond the measures we needed to present,” said Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague.

Prosecutors say on the morning of April 1, Harris was at the Stewart’s gas station in Elizabethtown with a bloodied tissue in his nose and more blood on his clothes. They say an Essex County Deputy Sheriff tried to detain him for questioning, which resulted in a takedown and Harris in handcuffs.

Police then went to the scene on Lincoln Pond Road and the deputy discovered a 9 mm pistol tucked away in the back of his cruiser.

Forensic experts say the weapon’s serial number had been scraped off and that at least one round had been fired from the fully loaded gun.

Despite arguments from the defense over the lack of DNA evidence and issues with the pistol, the judge granted both charges to remain due to reasonable cause.

The case now will head to an Essex County grand jury.

“My heart goes out to the family and friends of Billy Ball and all those that were affected by this. So, it does happen in our communities, and it has, and I think we all have experienced that one too many times,” Sprague said.

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