A father of two young daughters was reportedly shot and killed by a neighbor who became angry after one of the girls touched the mulch in his yard during a family walk in their suburban Michigan neighborhood.
Nathan Morris, 35, was out walking with his wife and daughters, ages 2 and 5, near their home in Canton when their neighbor, Deveraux Christopher Johnson, 47, confronted him, leading to an argument.
Johnson was allegedly upset that Morris’ daughter had touched the mulch on his property.
The Michigan GOP, which noted Morris was involved in local politics, reported that Johnson then pulled out a gun and began threatening the family.
Morris sent his family home, hoping to deescalate the situation, but was instead shot multiple times and killed by Johnson, who remained unarmed, prosecutors said.
When police arrived, they found Morris with a gunshot wound in the street, while Johnson had barricaded himself inside his home.
After several commands to surrender, Johnson eventually came out, repeatedly saying, “Praise to God Almighty,” and was taken into custody. He has been charged with first-degree murder and other felonies.
Morris, an engineer at Ford who recently became involved in local politics with the Michigan GOP, was remembered as a gentle and kind person by the party. He had also recently run for a school board position in his town and was known for his dedication and strong work ethic.
Johnson, who had lived in the neighborhood for 12 years, had a history of assaults on neighbors and police officers and had previous criminal charges from the 1990s.
A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and he is currently being held without bond.
A competency hearing has been requested, with his next court appearance scheduled for August 23.
