On May 15, 2023, at approximately 5:52 p.m., Hickory Police Department officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting at the Wimberly Crossing Apartments on 12th Avenue SE in Hickory, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they discovered 46-year-old Wade McArthur Danner Jr. lying on the porch of an apartment with gunshot wounds. Catawba County EMS pronounced him deceased at the scene.
Witnesses reported that Danner had been involved in a verbal altercation with 30-year-old Octavius Dontae Morgan prior to the shooting. Morgan allegedly shot Danner during the dispute and fled the area before police arrived. Authorities obtained a warrant for Morgan's arrest on charges of first-degree murder and initiated a search for his whereabouts.
Family and friends described Danner as a well-known figure at the apartment complex, often helping others and maintaining the neighborhood. Some suggested that the dispute may have arisen from Danner's concern for Morgan's dog, which he had been feeding and walking. Surveillance footage from the complex reportedly captured Danner pleading with Morgan to "put the gun down" moments before the fatal shots were fired.
After being on the run for over two months, Morgan was arrested on July 13, 2023, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He turned himself in to law enforcement and was held by the Coahoma County Sheriff's Office, awaiting extradition to North Carolina to face the first-degree murder charge.
The arrest brought a measure of relief to Danner's family and the Hickory community, who had been mourning his loss and seeking justice. Vigils and memorials held in his honor highlighted his positive impact on those around him, with many remembering him as someone who "made everyone laugh and smile" and was always willing to lend a helping hand.
