Inset: Dayton Alexander Morgan (Smith County (Tex.) District Clerk). Background: The intersection where Dayton Alexander Morgan allegedly murdered Trevor Julian during a road rage incident (Google Maps).
In Texas, a 23-year-old man faces accusations of fatally shooting a Marine in what authorities describe as a road rage incident. The conflict reportedly began after the accused, Dayton Alexander Morgan, stopped his vehicle too close to the victim at a traffic signal. The Marine, identified as 29-year-old Trevor Julian, was allegedly shot during the altercation.
Morgan has been charged with first-degree murder for his alleged role in Julian’s death.
The Tyler Police Department responded to several emergency calls about a shooting around 5 p.m. on Friday, February 13. The incident occurred at the intersection of Grande Boulevard and Paluxy Drive, approximately 110 miles southeast of Dallas. According to a local news report from ABC affiliate KLTV, Morgan was driving a truck, while Julian was the passenger in a white Tesla positioned one vehicle ahead of Morgan’s truck.
Reports from Nacogdoches-based CBS affiliate KYTX indicate that Julian’s wife was behind the wheel of the Tesla, with their three children seated in the back.reported.
On the scene, officers identified Morgan as the only individual who discharged a firearm during the encounter.
During his statement to investigators, Morgan allegedly recounted that both vehicles approached the intersection as the light turned red. He claimed the Tesla stopped abruptly, causing his truck to end up closer to it than he preferred, according to a report from the Longview News-Journal.
Morgan said Julian got out of the Tesla and began approaching his truck. He opened his driver’s side door while remaining in the seat.
Julian allegedly shouted for Morgan to move his truck back and Morgan reportedly responded, “What the (expletive) is your problem?”
The two men continued to yell at each other, according to police, with Julian telling Morgan to back his truck up, and Morgan telling Julian to move on.
Morgan claimed Julian then came toward the driver’s side door of his car, so he grabbed the handgun from his center console, racked the slide, and pointed it toward the driver’s side door of the truck. He said the door was “half-way open” when he fired a round through the window, striking Julian.
When interviewed by police, Morgan reportedly said that Julian never made verbal threats and did not appear to have a gun.
Detectives determined that Morgan’s claim of self-defense was not supported by the evidence.
Jail records show that Morgan is being held at the Smith County jail.
