WASHINGTON — Local news anchor Leon Harris will leave WJLA in October after 13 years, the station announced.

Harris has anchored ABC7’s news since 2003. “We can’t thank Leon enough for his service to our station and our community,” said ABC7 director of news Mitch Jacob in a statement. “He is a journalist of the highest caliber, and has been an asset in our newsroom, and he will be missed.” Harris tweeted that it was not his choice to leave the station.

13 great yrs at ABC7 are not enough, but will have to be. Thanks for the support, all! Not my choice, but it’s now my challenge. Much love!

— Leon Harris (@LeonABC7) September 2, 2016

Harris has a weekly segment that runs on Wednesdays called “Harris’ Heroes” that profile adults helping children or children helping their peers in the D.C. area. In 2013, Harris was diagnosed with necrotizing pancreatitis, an inflammatory process of the pancreas, which led to a health crisis. He was taken to Suburban Hospital and later transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Harris told CNN that he came close to dying a few times while he was hospitalized. He returned to work more than month later. Before arriving in Washington, D.C., Harris spent 20 years at CNN in Atlanta, anchoring Live Today and Prime News. He also hosted CNN Presents and American Stories. He and his wife Dawn live in Maryland.