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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).
A 23-year-old man from Texas is facing charges after allegedly shooting and killing a 29-year-old Marine in a road rage incident. The confrontation reportedly began when the suspect stopped too closely behind the victim at a red light.
Dayton Alexander Morgan has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Trevor Julian.
At around 5 p.m. on Friday, February 13, officers from the Tyler Police Department responded to several 911 calls about a shooting at the intersection of Grande Boulevard and Paluxy Drive, approximately 110 miles southeast of Dallas. According to a report from KLTV, the local ABC affiliate, Morgan was driving a truck, while Julian was a passenger in a white Tesla positioned one car ahead.
The Tesla was driven by Julian’s wife, with their three children seated in the back, as reported by CBS affiliate KYTX based in Nacogdoches. The report provided further details on the incident.
Officers at the scene identified Morgan as the sole individual who discharged a firearm during the encounter.
Morgan allegedly told investigators that both vehicles were approaching the intersection when the light turned red. He reportedly claimed the Tesla “came to an abrupt stop,” leaving his truck “closer to the Tesla than he would like,” the Longview News-Journal reported.
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.