NBC4 Washington anchor Leon Harris has announced that he is stepping down from his role at the station in a statement shared on the NBC4 website and social media. The 63-year-old sparked public health concerns in November during a Thanksgiving broadcast when he appeared to struggle to put a sentence together. In the statement, Harris acknowledged his recent medical leave of absence; he explained that he used the time to focus on his “health and family.” “After 40+ years of nonstop work and the dramatic changes in the news and television industry, I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my role at NBC4,” said Harris in the statement. He didn’t provide any specifics on his health status but said he is “grateful” for “the last eight years” he spent working at NBC4 and thanked his colleagues, friends and viewers. In a statement of its own, NBC4 said Harris “will be missed” and thanked him for his “commitment to our community, dedication to journalism, hard work, and friendship.” Harris has discussed his past struggles with alcohol, but it is not clear whether the November incident was related to substance use. Before joining NBC4, the journalist worked as an anchor at CNN and WJLA-TV. Over the course of his career, he has won over a dozen local Emmy Awards, including two for Best Local News Anchor.