In the early hours of May 14, 2020, the quiet town of Ritzville, Washington, was rocked by a tragic act of violence. Douglas Morris, a 51-year-old Caucasian male, was killed in his own home on West 7th Avenue. The person responsible for his death was his own son, 26-year-old Grayson Douglas Wrae Morris. The younger Morris arrived at his father's residence around 5:30 a.m. in a stolen Ford Escape, armed with a long rifle.
He forcibly entered the house by kicking in the front door, proceeded to his father's bedroom where he was asleep, and fired multiple shots, killing him at the scene.
Immediately following the shooting, Grayson Morris fled in the stolen vehicle, initiating a multi-state manhunt. Law enforcement agencies in Washington and Oregon were alerted, and a description of the stolen SUV was broadcast. Several hours later, Oregon State Police troopers spotted the vehicle on Interstate 84 near Hood River. A high-speed chase ensued, with Grayson driving recklessly at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour and firing his rifle at the pursuing officers. The chase continued westward towards Portland, creating a perilous situation on the busy interstate.
The pursuit came to a dramatic end near Troutdale, Oregon, after police successfully disabled the stolen SUV. In a desperate attempt to escape, Grayson carjacked another vehicle at gunpoint. However, law enforcement officers were able to stop this second vehicle. An exchange of gunfire followed, during which Grayson Morris was injured. He was then taken into custody and transported to a hospital for medical treatment. The swift and coordinated efforts of law enforcement from both states brought the dangerous rampage to a close.
In the aftermath, Grayson Morris faced justice for the murder of his father. He was charged with first-degree homicide in Adams County Superior Court. On October 4, 2021, he pleaded guilty to the charge. Accepting a joint recommendation from both the prosecution and the defense, the court sentenced him to 23 and a half years in prison. The motive for the patricide was not made clear in the reports, leaving a community to grapple with the shocking and senseless loss of Douglas Morris.
