Within hours of the murder of Alphonzo Harris, his step-son was charged in his death.

Emergency personnel were called to Harris’s home at 748 Langford Street, Prosperity, at 6:17 Wednesday morning.

Once they arrived, they found the 43-year-old Harris dead, due to a gunshot wound to the head.

Harris’ step-son, Markus Marquel Kibler, 20, also of 748 Langford Street, Prosperity, was arrested and charged with murder yesterday.

“Kibler called 911 this morning at approximately 6:17 this morning stating that someone had shot his step-father, but he did not know who had done it,“ said Foster yesterday.

The 911 call recorded a shaken Kibler stating Harris had been shot.

At the scene Foster said Kibler claimed he had gotten home from work, heard a popping sound and found Harris on the couch where he had been shot.

As deputies arrived on the scene, they whisked Kibler to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning as other investigators from the Sheriff’s office and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division examined the crime scene and SLED’s bloodhounds canvassed the area.

Foster says that the motive for the shooting is still not clear at this point. However, the sheriff’s department has received information from several sources that the two had not gotten along since Harris’ wife, who was also Kibler’s mother, passed away in January of this year.

At the scene, Harris’ brother-in-law said his sister had died due to an illness.

Foster added that he could not release the details of the investigation because of the impending trial, but that the investigators had located and documented substantial physical and forensic evidence linking Kibler to the murder.

Law enforcement records show that Kibler has a prior criminal record that includes a 2006 conviction for possession of a controlled substance and carrying a pistol unlawfully. Kibler received a probationary sentence; a 2006 conviction for possession of marijuana and possession of beer under 21; a 2008 conviction for driving under suspension; and is currently out of bond for a 2007 charge of assault and battery with intent to kill from Fairfield County for an unrelated shooting incident.

Kibler will receive a hearing with a Newberry County Magistrate to be informed of his rights but a bond hearing will have to be scheduled in front of a circuit court judge due to the charge carrying a life sentence.

Foster said that the arrest did not and would not close the case.

He said that investigators are working to determine if anyone else was involved with murder, and working to piece together what would become the last moments of Harris’ life. At the scene, relatives and friends said Harris was a nice man and works at West Fraser. Authorities are still asking anyone with any information about this case, to contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at 321-2211.

This is the first murder in the county since 2007, said Foster.

To listen to the 911 call made by Kibler go to; http://www.newberrycounty.net/sheriff/toddpics/Harris911tape.wma