Father shot dead by neighbor after daughter ‘touched the mulch’ while on family walk

Nathan Morris, a 35-year-old father of two young daughters, was tragically shot and killed by his neighbor during a dispute in their suburban Michigan neighborhood.

The incident occurred just before noon on Saturday while Morris was on a walk with his wife and their daughters, ages 2 and 5, near their home in Canton.

According to police, the confrontation began when their neighbor, 47-year-old Deveraux Christopher Johnson, became upset that one of Morris’s daughters had “touched the mulch” on his property.

Johnson confronted Morris, and the situation quickly escalated into an argument.

The Michigan GOP, with which Morris was affiliated, reported that Johnson became increasingly aggressive, eventually brandishing a gun and threatening the family.

In an effort to protect his family, Morris sent his wife and daughters home, telling them he would try to deescalate the situation. However, Johnson opened fire, shooting Morris multiple times. Morris, who was unarmed, was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

When police arrived on the scene, they found Morris lying in the street with a gunshot wound. Johnson had barricaded himself inside his home, but after repeated orders to surrender, he eventually emerged, chanting “Praise to God Almighty.”

He was taken into custody and has since been charged with first-degree murder and other felonies.

Morris was a respected member of his community, working as an engineer at Ford and actively involved in local politics with the Michigan GOP. He had recently run for a position on the school board and was remembered for his “can-do spirit and strong focus on the work and responsibilities.”

Johnson, who is scheduled to appear in court on August 23, had lived in the neighborhood for 12 years, with a history of violent behavior, including assaults on neighbors and police officers.

He also faced criminal sexual conduct charges from the 1990s. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and he is currently being held without bond.

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The prosecutor’s office has requested a competency hearing for Johnson.