Tashana Ian McMorris, a 33-year-old African American male, was found dead in a car along 45th Street in West Palm Beach, Florida, in the early morning hours of May 14, 2021. The incident occurred in the parking lot of a Sam's Club retail warehouse at 45th and Military Trail. McMorris was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds, and investigators recovered ten shell casings from the scene, indicating a targeted attack.
The exterior of McMorris' vehicle showed multiple bullet strikes, further supporting the theory of a deliberate assault.
The investigation into McMorris' death led to the arrest of Carlington Haughton, a 30-year-old man from Riviera Beach. Haughton was charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bail at the Palm Beach County Jail. DNA evidence and a witness statement linked Haughton to the crime. The witness reported seeing Haughton arrive at the scene in a blue Toyota Scion moments before the shooting. Surveillance footage corroborated this account, showing a blue Toyota leaving the parking lot shortly after the incident. A records search confirmed that a vehicle matching this description was registered in Haughton's name.
Despite the arrest, the motive for the shooting remains unclear. The forensic biology report released in June indicated that DNA evidence recovered from McMorris' vehicle was most likely to have originated from Haughton. This case is one of several homicides in West Palm Beach in 2021, contributing to a concerning trend of violent crimes in the area. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to seek additional information from the public to fully understand the circumstances surrounding McMorris' death.
