A man fixated on the idea of a “doomsday bunker” allegedly hidden beneath the Kentucky residence of former State Representative Wesley Morgan is facing sentencing for the murder of Morgan’s daughter.
On May 21, Shannon Gilday was found guilty, though mentally ill, for the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Jordan Morgan while she slept at her home in 2022, as reported by WKYT.
Attempts to reach Gilday’s attorney for comment on the verdict were unsuccessful, according to Oxygen. Gilday had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, as detailed by Fox 19.
In February 2022, Wesley Morgan informed reporters that Gilday, clad in military fatigues and a bulletproof vest, broke into the Richmond home via an upstairs window. After forcing his way into Jordan’s bedroom, he shot her multiple times.
Wesley recounted that he was awakened by the sound of gunfire, opened his bedroom door, and encountered Gilday on the staircase.
“At that time, he opened fire on me,” Wesley said. “I immediately hit the floor. He shot me three times. I had been shot twice in the arm and once in the hip.”
Wesley said his wife Lindsey ran into their 14-year-old daughter’s bedroom while he grabbed a 9 mm handgun from his dresser drawer and fired 11 shots at Gilday. “Did I hit him 11 times? Probably not,” said Wesley. “But I’m pretty positive I did hit him.”
Gilday then made his way into the bathroom, per Wesley’s account, and when he exited, Wesley shot multiple times in his direction with a different gun while hiding behind a couch. Gilday then fled the home in a white Toyota Corolla, according to Kentucky State Police.
Days later, on Feb. 28, Gilday was apprehended walking along a state highway just after 4:30 a.m., police said. He was charged with murder, burglary, criminal mischief, assault and attempted murder.
According to police records cited by Court TV, those who knew Gilday claimed he had been “seeking shelter inside a bunker” over fears about the war in Ukraine. Gilday did not target anyone specifically, according to the outlet, but instead the home’s alleged “elaborate doomsday bunker.”
Gilday had been monitoring the Morgan family before the shooting, according to a search warrant obtained by Lex18, noting the family’s sleep schedule and the location of potential security cameras around their $6.5 million Richmond home.
Later, one of Gilday’s friends told police that he had found directions to the Morgan home inside Gilday’s apartment, according to the warrant. The friend claimed Gilday had “a history of psychotic problems” and had been looking at residences with bunkers.
When interviewed by police, Gilday allegedly claimed to hear “voices” directing him to shoot, which he believed came from the FBI, according to the Lexington Herald Leader.
During the May trial, forensic psychologist Dr. Bhushan Agharkar, told the jury that Gilday was “absolutely psychotic” during the home invasion, according to the Lexington Herald Leader. After the shooting, he said, Gilday was placed on anti-psychotic medication and became remorseful.
Defense attorney Kimberly Green asked the court for a sentence that “shows there’s still hope” for Gilday, according to the Lexington Herald Leader. Gilday will be sentenced on May 28, according to WKYT News.
After the verdict, Morgan posted photos of his late daughter on Facebook.
“My sweet, beautiful daughter Jordan Wesley Morgan,” he captioned the post. “I miss her so much. The grief never ends.”