On a crisp November morning in the woods of Frankfort, New York, the life of 20-year-old Joshua R. Morgan was tragically cut short. It was November 17, 2019, and the young man, a resident of Frankfort, was with a hunting party in a wooded area north of State Route 5S. At approximately 8:30 a.m., a member of his own party accidentally shot him. Emergency services were called to the scene, but sadly, Joshua was pronounced dead where he lay.
Joshua Robert Morgan, a White male, was born on
June 19, 1999, in New Hartford, New York. A 2018 graduate of Frankfort-Schuyler High School, he had taken construction courses and was an active participant in football, track, and baseball. At the time of his passing, he was employed in the flooring department at Lowe's in New Hartford. Friends and family remembered him as a kind and giving person who was always ready to lend a helping hand to others. He had aspirations of becoming a Correctional Officer after his 21st birthday.
The New York State Police, along with the New York State Environmental Police and the Town of Frankfort Police and Fire Departments, conducted a thorough investigation into the shooting. Their findings concluded that the incident was a tragic accident. The authorities determined that the shooting was unintentional, and there were no indications of foul play. As a result, no criminal charges were filed against the individual who fired the shot, and no arrests were made. The case was subsequently closed, leaving a community to mourn the sudden and unexpected loss of a young man with a promising future.
