Michigan dad shot to death in cold blood by neighbor who complained about children who 'touched the mulch'

A Michigan father is dead after he and his family took a Saturday stroll and returned home to find his neighbor furious. Nathan Morris was confronted by his neighbor Deveraux Johnson, who allegedly shot the father of two in the street in broad daylight. The attack occurred in the bedroom community of Canton, Mich.

Police accuse Johnson of killing Morris after the two began arguing over Morris’ daughter who dared to “touch the mulch” on Johnson’s lawn, the Daily Mail reports. That was apparently enough to set Johnson over the edge and police say he took out a gun and began threatening Morris and his family. Morris sent his family home, hoping to resolve the disagreement.

Instead, he was greeted with gunfire and died. Johnson is accused of firing several bullets at Morris. When police arrived, they found the father lying in the middle of the street, dying from a gunshot wound, Fox 2 Detroit reports. He died of his wounds after being taken to hospital.

Police charged Johnson with first-degree murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of felony firearm. He is no stranger to altercations with police and other neighbors in the commuinity, the Mail noted. Police say he has a criminal record dating back to the 1990s.

A guilty plea has been entered on his behalf while he is being held without bail while the local prosecutor awaits a competency hearing. Morris is scheduled to make another court appearance on Aug. 23. He did not submit easily to arrest, locking himself in his home when the police came for him.

Johnson initially ignored calls to surrender but finally exited the house with his hands up and chanting, “Praise to God Almighty.” Police shackled him and put the accused inside a squad car after his exhibition. Local Police Chief Chad Baugh has called the shooting a "senseless act of violence," as several witnesses described the chilling incident to him.

“Nathan Morris was a friend, a fellow patriot, a strong Christian, a wonderful husband to Becky, and a great dad to Molly and Zoey," the Michigan GOP said. "He was an engineer at Ford Motors and got involved in politics when Ford mandated COVID-19 vaccines. He ran for Canton School board to make schools safe for his daughters. I worked closely with him as the former Chair of the MI-6th CDRC, and as the member of the Wayne 6th CDRC, of which he was the Secretary.”

Friends of Morris have set up a GiveSendGo to assist with his family’s needs. Morris, they say, was a family man first and foremost. “He will be missed by the hundreds of people who knew him and loved him, and enjoyed his can-do spirit and strong focus on the work and responsibilities, which he took on at the cost of precious family time, especially reading to his children at bedtime.”