A Henry County man was charged with murder Wednesday night, hours after he allegedly shot and killed his 79-year-old father at the family’s auto parts business.
John Wesley Morgan Jr., 48, called police Wednesday afternoon and admitted what he had done, Henry County police said. Just before 10 p.m,, Morgan was booked into the Henry County jail.
The shooting happened around 3:30 at the Morgan Auto Parts store on Ga. 138 in Stockbridge, Major Jason Bolton with Henry police told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Other family members and employees watched as Morgan allegedly shot John Wesley Morgan multiple times during an altercation with one of his sons at the store, Bolton said. The older Morgan was found dead behind the store when officers arrived.
Morgan Jr. called 911 to report the shooting and was sitting at a desk when officers at the scene, Bolton said. The son surrendered to police.
“The victim’s son was on scene upon arrival of police and is now speaking with detectives, along with several witnesses,” Bolton said in an emailed statement.
Morgan Jr. was taken to police headquarters, where he was questioned before being arrested, police said.
Family members declined to speak about the incident outside the business Wednesday night.
Police had been called to the business previously due to gunshots being fired, Bolton said. No further information about those incidents was available.
The older Morgan had owned the business for decades, address records show. 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.”
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