On the evening of May 22, 1979, in the small town of Goessel, Kansas, a domestic disturbance call set in motion a tragic chain of events. John T. Morgan, a 47-year-old male Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Marion County Sheriff's Department, responded to the call, accompanied by his own son. As he arrived at the scene and stepped out of his vehicle, he was met with sudden and deadly violence.
An assailant, armed with a rifle, opened fire, killing Deputy Morgan instantly.
The chaotic scene did not end with the death of the responding officer. The same individual responsible for Deputy Morgan's death also murdered his own ex-wife and wounded her boyfriend, turning a family dispute into a multiple-casualty incident. The community was left to grapple with the sudden loss of a dedicated law enforcement officer and the brutal nature of the crime that unfolded in their midst.
In the aftermath of the shootings, the suspect was apprehended and faced the legal consequences of his actions. He was ultimately convicted for the murders of Reserve Deputy Sheriff John T. Morgan and his ex-wife. After serving 24 years in prison for his crimes, the individual was granted parole in 2004. The violent events of that day left a lasting scar on the community and a tragic void for the families of the victims.
