A 16-year-old teenager, Malakiah Harris, is facing charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence after allegedly stabbing a 13-year-old girl, Savannah Copeland, 93 times in what he claimed was an act of self-defense. The incident occurred when Savannah sneaked out of her Tennessee home to meet Harris and his brother on October 24, 18 months ago. Court documents revealed that Savannah was repeatedly stabbed mostly on her upper body on a walking trail near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Harris, who was 15 at the time of the incident, allegedly boasted to his brother about the act, stating it was in self-defense. He reportedly confessed to his girlfriend the next day about “getting his first body” but did not disclose the victim’s identity. Furthermore, police discovered a message from Harris to a friend stating, “Deed is done,” with no apparent motive for the attack.
Savannah’s father expressed his distress over the lack of a clear motive for the tragedy and emphasized the importance of teaching compassion to children. Following a ruling by Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin in February, Harris will be tried as an adult due to the premeditated nature of the alleged murder and the presence of probable cause.
