On December 8, 2022, law enforcement officials in Butler County, Missouri, responded to a residence located on Highway AA near the intersection of B Highway, just outside of Poplar Bluff. The call originated from reports of numerous shots being fired at the location. When deputies arrived at the scene around midday, they were immediately confronted by an armed individual outside the home.
The situation escalated rapidly, resulting in the deputies discharging their weapons and fatally wounding the subject, who was later identified as 45-year-old Justin Morgan.
Following the confrontation, authorities entered the residence to conduct a safety sweep and investigate the source of the initial gunfire reports. Inside the home, they discovered the lifeless bodies of two men who had sustained apparent gunshot wounds. The victims were identified as 76-year-old male Norman G. Morgan and his 47-year-old son, Timothy Allen Morgan. Investigators determined that the armed man killed by deputies, Justin Morgan, was the son of Norman and the brother of Timothy. It is believed that Justin fatally shot his father and brother before law enforcement arrived at the property.
The investigation into the triple fatality was subsequently turned over to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control to ensure an independent review of the officer-involved shooting and the double homicide. Three Butler County deputies were placed on paid administrative leave following the incident, which is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings. Norman was remembered in his obituary as a dedicated veteran who had served in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and loved hunting and coaching local youth sports, while Timothy was noted for his artistic talents and love for the outdoors. No other suspects were sought in connection with the violence that claimed the lives of the three family members.
