LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
The second party involved in a shocking Kansas shooting Friday, June 28 appeared for a pre-trial release hearing Monday, July 1. The shooting, which ended with what has been reported as a “self-inflicted gun death,” involved multiple law enforcement agencies and an air evac from Kansas High School’s baseball diamond.
According to a report from the Champaign County Coroner, Xavier T. Harris, 34, of Terre Haute, Ind. was pronounced dead from a self-inflicted gunshot at 3:47 p.m. on Friday, after being airlifted to Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign.
Dejahrie D. Campbell, 20, of Kansas, appeared at the Edgar County Courthouse facing three charges, two of which are felonies. Campbell was shot in the leg and injured by Harris during Friday’s altercation outside of a Kansas apartment complex.
Campbell, accompanied by a group of family members, appeared before Judge Matthew Sullivan on Monday. Sullivan outlined the charges leveled against Campbell, including aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (a Class 4 felony), obstructing justice (a Class 4 felony) and aggravated assault (a Class A misdemeanor).
Edgar County state’s attorney Philip Dobelstein offered an account of the June 28 incident, including the actions for which Campbell is being prosecuted.
According to Dobelstein, surveillance footage captured near the apartment complex at 311 Cook Drive in Kansas showed Campbell carrying an “uncased” and “easily accessible” handgun “on his person.”
The footage reportedly shows Campbell approaching Harris before pointing the weapon at Harris’ face. Harris is seen raising his hands in the air before Campbell turns away and begins walking back to his apartment.
As Campbell walks back to his apartment, Harris can be seen grabbing a firearm from his vehicle before opening fire on Campbell and sending several rounds into Campbell’s apartment. Campbell entered his apartment before reemerging with a limp.
Dobelstein explained that next, Harris returned to his own apartment “and proceeded to turn the gun on himself.”
After the shooting, investigators discovered a pistol south of Campbell’s apartment, near a window with a screen that had been pushed outward from the inside. According to Dobelstein, the small .22 caliber revolver matched the weapon Campbell was seen brandishing in the security tape and had four rounds loaded in the cylinder.
Campbell did not have a valid FOID card at the time of the altercation.
Edgar County public defender Nathanael Harsy, representing Campbell and advocating for his pre-trial release, asked Sullivan not to consider the account of the video surveillance described by Dobelstein, as Harsy had yet to receive the footage or the report detailing the footage at the time of the hearing.
Harsy proceeded to present a similar chain of events based on a report from another agent involved with the investigation, supplemented by additional information provided to him by the defendant.
According to Harsy, Campbell was provoked to confront Harris by another altercation, this time between Harris and Campbell’s younger brother.
“Mr. Campbell advised me that Mr. Harris… slapped Mr. Campbell’s little brother and tore his hoodie,” said Harsy. “The alleged victim in this matter approached Mr. Campbell and told him that he did smack Mr. Campbell's little brother and that he isn't going to go back to jail… (and that) if someone tries to take him back to jail, he’s going to take Mr. Campbell as well as Mr. Campbell's little brother with him.”
Harsy reported that Harris ran away after that exchange and Campbell genuinely believed Harris intended to harm his family and his little brother. Campbell then told his fiance to have his mother lock their apartment doors. An attempt was made to contact the police, but poor cell reception prevented the call from going through.
During the shooting, Harsy alleged Harris shot into Campbell’s house and also attempted to shoot his younger brother.
“They (Campbell’s family) were attempting to protect themselves,” said Harsy. “Mr. Harris shot into the house of Mr. Campbell, and then Mr. Harris shot himself and is now since deceased.”
Campbell, according to Harsy, is the primary breadwinner for his family and was slated to begin working a new job once he acquired an ID card. Harsy requested that the state’s petition to detain Campbell before his preliminary hearing be denied, instead offering to have Campbell electronically monitored.
Campbell later testified on his own behalf, explaining he was not aware the gun used by Harris, which was later identified as Campbell’s mother’s weapon (Harris was Campbell’s stepfather), was in the car. Campbell noted that Harris was standing 20 to 30 feet from his vehicle during the confrontation.
“He was feet away from his gun,” said Campbell, later adding, “That’s when I went to secure my house… I thought the gun was in the house in my mom’s safe, so I was trying to protect them.”
“He told me straight up he's not going back to jail and he’ll take me and my brother with him,” Campbell concluded.
Sullivan, Dobelstein and Harsy continued to discuss the validity of the state’s proffer, specifically the account of the security footage. Dobelstein explained he had not seen the security footage himself but had testimony from Edgar County Housing Authority head of security Eric Brown regarding the footage.
Dobelstein also provided an affidavit from Paris Police Department detective Blake Goff whose claims relayed the same information. Harsy reiterated he had not received a copy of the document and instead was using a separate report.
Sullivan recentered the discussion on one of the prosecution’s most critical claims.
“I just want to make sure Mr. Campbell pointed a loaded gun at Mr. Harris before he retrieved a handgun from another location,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan offered both the prosecution and the defense an opportunity to make a closing argument for and against Campbell’s pre-trial detainment.
“Mr. Campbell was illegally carrying a firearm,” said Dobelstein. “He used a firearm to threaten the life of Mr. Harris, who apparently retaliated and proceeded to fire a handgun at Mr. Campbell across the apartment complex – an apartment complex that houses other families and children.”
“Mr. Campbell’s actions show a blatant disregard for the safety of the community and the safety of others,” Dobelstein concluded.
Harsy argued that, since Harris is deceased, the threat that provoked Campbell to action is no longer in play, and Campbell is no longer a threat to anyone.
“There are no other alleged bystanders in this matter… Mr. Campbell was a victim of Mr. Harris, I don’t believe it would be appropriate to now punish Mr. Campbell for getting shot,” said Harsy.
Sullivan pushed back on Harsy, explaining that Campbell’s victimhood is not what is under scrutiny, but his alleged use of a weapon to threaten Harris.
After continued discussion of the security footage, Sullivan provided a ruling: Campbell was to be detained.
An emotional Campbell was remanded to the custody of the Edgar County Sheriff’s Department.
“I love you all so much,” he said to family members through tears.
Campbell will be back in court for a preliminary hearing at 2:15 p.m. on Monday, July 22.