A Henry County man accused of shooting and killing his father Wednesday was denied bond Thursday morning.
A magistrate set a June 20 preliminary hearing for John Wesley Morgan, Jr.
Henry County police said Morgan called authorities to report that he’d shot his 79-year-old father, John Wesley Morgan, Sr . The shooting happened around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Morgan Auto Parts store on Ga. 138 near Stockbridge, police said.
The younger Morgan was charged with murder and booked into the Henry County Jail just before 10 p.m., according to jail records.
The older Morgan had owned the business for decades, and police said they had responded to previous reports of gunfire there.
Major Jason Bolton with Henry police said other family members and employees saw Morgan shoot his father several times during an altercation. The older Morgan was found dead behind the store when officers arrived. Morgan Jr. was sitting at a desk when officers arrived, Bolton said, and surrendered to police.
The older Morgan had owned the business for decades. Neither Morgan has any known criminal record.
David Gentry said he had worked at the shop off and on for 20 years and was working when he heard gunshots. Gentry said he had never known the father and son to argue and was shocked at what happened.
“I don’t know what snapped him or whatever,” Gentry said of Morgan Jr. “It was straight out of the blue.”
