A 44-year-old Greenville woman is sitting in jail without bond after warrants say she tried to kill a man with a pair of scissors. Samantha Harris was arrested Monday by Greenville police and now faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in connection with an attack on a man identified as Anthony Phillips.
According to WITN, court documents show Harris tried to kill Phillips using scissors, and warrants allege she attempted to murder him. Harris was jailed after allegedly trying to murder the man, per the warrants, and she remains held without bond.
Why No Magistrate Set Bail
For certain high-level felony offenses, North Carolina's Pretrial Integrity Act, which took effect in October 2023, limits magistrates' authority and gives judges discretion over pretrial release conditions, including whether to deny release, per the UNC School of Government.
State procedure allows a possible hold of up to 48 hours in specified circumstances before a first appearance, per Ryan Willis Law. That timeline lines up with Harris's scheduled first court appearance Tuesday afternoon, a day after her Monday arrest, per the same WITN report.
The Assault Charge
The assault charge against Harris concerns her alleged use of scissors in the attack.
What Harris Could Face If Convicted
The stakes for Harris are steep under North Carolina's structured sentencing system. Attempted first-degree murder is classified as a Class B felony, according to Marcilliat & Mills PLLC. Harris also faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.
A City Under New Leadership
The case lands in Greenville at a moment of change for the police department investigating it. Chief Kolenya “KZ” Thomas was sworn in on September 2, becoming the first woman to serve as Chief of Police for the Greenville Police Department, according to the City of Greenville.
Greenville has been grappling with crime concerns for some time. The department has pursued policing and violent-crime reduction efforts.
Open questions remain in the case, including the current physical condition of Phillips and the specific circumstances that led to the confrontation. It is also unclear whether the District Court judge will modify or maintain the no-bond hold when Harris appears in court Tuesday afternoon.
