Accused of shooting a romantic rival in the liver Friday in a Gillette parking lot, a local man is now charged with aggravated assault and attempted second-degree murder.
The assault charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, the attempted murder charge of between 20 years and life in prison.
Jordan Morris, 22, was arrested Friday amid conflicting narratives about the circumstances in which Morris allegedly shot a 23-year-old man.
Gillette Police Department officers responded to the area of 1000 Church Avenue that evening at about 11:45 p.m., says an affidavit by GPD Officer Forrest Rothleutner.
A woman on scene came to pick up her child, and said her ex-husband, Morris, was involved in a shooting. The ex-wife said someone broke into Morris’ apartment and attacked him, and Morris shot the man in response, the affidavit relates.
The ex-wife called Morris out from his apartment, and he approached the door shirtless, in black sweatpants and socks. He told officers a man came to the apartment and threatened him while his 2-year-old child was in the home, says the document.
So, Morris continued, he grabbed his pistol and ultimately shot the man.
Police asked where the shooting happened. Morris said in the back parking lot, the document notes.
The Door
Morris told police the alleged victim had been sending him threatening messages for weeks. Morris also believed a woman he’d been dating for several weeks (a different woman from the ex-wife) had “set him up” in a dangerous situation with the alleged victim, who was her ex-boyfriend.
Morris told Rothleutner that the other man hit him as soon as they met at the apartment door. Later, Morris said the other man shoved him. He then retrieved a firearm and went to confront the man, who hit him, according to Morris’ account.
Morris said he then followed the man to the parking lot, where three more people got out of a car.
Afraid for himself, and for his son – who was in the apartment – Morris shot the other man, the complaint says.
The girlfriend called Morris a “psychopath” and left, the document adds.
The Driver
The driver of the 2015 white Ford that had been in the parking lot gave an interview as well, in which he indicated that the alleged victim believed Morris' "girlfriend" was still his girlfriend.
The driver said the alleged victim had asked for a ride to his “girlfriend’s” car to pick up his vape pen.
The driver also said a man with a gun emerged from the apartment when they arrived; the two men started fighting, and a gunshot sounded.
The wounded man was placed in the vehicle, and the driver took him to the hospital, according to the driver’s interview. The driver also said the alleged victim “never attempted to go to any apartment” that night.
A passenger in the vehicle gave essentially the same story, detailing the alleged victim’s mission to get his vape pen out of his “girlfriend’s” car.
Someone’s Girlfriend
The woman had been receiving escalating texts from the alleged victim that evening, she later told police. The alleged victim was upset that she wasn’t answering him, and he believed she was with Morris, she said.
He said he was coming to get his vape pen back, and he found her vehicle, says the affidavit.
When Morris noticed the rival outside, he said “my (expletive) kid is here!” and left the apartment with a handgun, the document says.
Morris confronted his rival outside, “gun in hand.” They exchanged words; the rival hit Morris in the head or face, and a gunshot sounded, the girlfriend told police.
The doctor who performed surgery on the victim said the round damaged his liver.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
