An Alabama middle school assistant principal, Keante Harris, along with three other men, was arrested for the murder of three individuals in a cold-case triple homicide that occurred in Union City, Georgia in January 2013. The victims, Cheryl Colquitt-Thompson, Quinones King, and Rodney Cottrell, were lured to a home, forced inside at gunpoint, tortured, killed, and then stuffed inside a car that was abandoned on an exit ramp on the I-85 interstate in Fulton County. The case remained unsolved for 11 years until the suspects were identified and apprehended last week.
The suspects, which include Keante Harris, Kenneth Thompson, Kevin Harris, and Darrell Harris were each charged with three counts of malicious murder by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office. Harris, who worked as an assistant principal at McAdory Middle School in Birmingham, was immediately placed on administrative leave following the charges. While it is unclear how long Harris has been employed as an assistant principal, his social media accounts suggest he has been working with Jefferson County Schools since 2018 and has been involved in education since 2006.
Despite being charged with murder, it is not yet known how Keante Harris and the other three suspects are connected to the triple homicides. Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin stated that the charges do not seem to be related to Harris’ employment with the school district and that Harris has been placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation. As more information becomes available, the district will act according to its policies and procedures. The arrests have raised questions about Harris’ background and how these allegations could impact his career in education.
The triple murders in Union City, Georgia remained a mystery for over a decade until the suspects were finally identified and apprehended last week. Authorities have not disclosed details on how Harris and the other suspects were linked to the crimes, leaving the public and the victims’ families seeking answers on the motives behind the brutal killings. The discovery of the bodies in an abandoned car on the interstate shocked the community and reignited interest in the case, ultimately leading to the arrests of the four men for the murders.
The charges brought against Keante Harris and the other suspects have sparked concern and confusion within the education community, raising questions about the background checks and hiring practices of school districts. Harris’ sudden arrest and subsequent administrative leave have left colleagues and students at McAdory Middle School stunned as they grapple with the news about a trusted member of the school staff being implicated in such a heinous crime. The impact of these developments on Harris’ career and the implications for the school district will continue to unfold as the investigation progresses.
As the investigation into the triple murders in Union City, Georgia continues, the focus remains on seeking justice for the victims and their families. The arrests of Keante Harris and the other suspects have brought renewed attention to a case that had long gone cold, shedding light on the efforts of law enforcement to solve these brutal crimes. While the details surrounding the suspects’ connection to the murders are still unclear, the arrests mark a significant step towards closure for those affected by the tragic events of January 2013.
