Connelly Springs man charged in stabbing in vehicle

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer

A Burke County man was stabbed early Tuesday morning, and another man was charged in the incident.

Randy Fender of Drexel was stabbed in the chest with a knife about 2 a.m. after getting into an argument while driving with another man, according to a press release from the Burke County Sheriff's Office.

Robert Camara Harris, 30, of Connelly Springs, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious bodily injury, the press release said.

Deputies initially responded to Grace Hospital in Morganton, where Fender, 52, was being treated, according to the Sheriff's Office release. Fender was expected to recover, the release said.

Fender, who was driving, told deputies that his passenger led him to a deserted portion of Butler Hill Road, according to the release. Fender said he and the passenger began to argue and he asked the passenger to get out of the vehicle, authorities said.

According to the release, Fender said the passenger then pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the right side of his chest.

Burke County sheriff deputies and officers from the Drexel Police Department found Harris about 30 minutes later on Zion Road near Drexel, not far from where Fender said he was stabbed. Harris was in a car that had been reported stolen in Drexel, the release said.

Harris was being held Tuesday at the Burke County jail on a $2,500 bond.

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