DILLONVALE - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department is continuing its investigation of a late Friday double shooting which has been ruled as a murder/suicide.
Upon arriving at the scene at around 10 p.m., two bodies were discovered lying in the driveway of a home on county Road 7, according to Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla.
Abdalla stated witnesses saw and heard the gunshots fired by Donald Christopher Harris, 44, of Adena, at his girlfriend, 45-year-old Denise Kennedy of Dillonvale.
According to Abdalla and witnesses, the two were involved in a dispute after going to dinner earlier Friday. Later Friday, Harris went to Kennedy's home and began "beating" on the door, according to Abdalla. When Kennedy would not let him into the home, Harris apparently began slashing the tires on her car, the sheriff and witnesses reported.
Abdalla said Kennedy apparently then told her 12-year-old daughter, who was at home at the time of the incident, to call 911. But Harris had cut the phone lines, Abdalla said.
Somehow, Harris had gained entry into the home and Kennedy told her daughter to "run to a neighbor's house," saying she would come with her, Abdalla said.
The sheriff said Harris apparently then grabbed Kennedy and told her "she wasn't going anywhere."
As Kennedy broke free and was running barefoot down her driveway, she was shot, Abdalla reported, adding Harris then turned the gun on himself.
He added the 12-year-old stated she heard the two shots that were fired from the neighbors' home.
"We had several witnesses say they heard and saw Harris fire the gun," Abdalla commented. "The witnesses say they also heard the woman fall to ground."
The sheriff concluded by saying the incident is "just a tragedy."
He stated his heart breaks for the little girl, whose mother was only trying to protect her. "It's such a terrible thing."
Kennedy's daughter is currently staying with her father, the sheriff said.
(Ghrist can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)
