CANTON, MI – A peaceful suburban community in Michigan was shattered over the weekend when a longstanding resident was fatally shot following a dispute about a front lawn. Devereaux Christopher Johnson, 47, is facing charges of first-degree premeditated murder, felon in possession of a weapon, and two counts of felony firearms, as announced by the Canton Police Department.
The victim, Nathan Morris, 35, had sent his wife and two young daughters to safety as the disagreement escalated. Tragically, he later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. Canton Police Chief Chad Baugh expressed his condolences to the victim’s family and the community, describing the incident as a “senseless act of violence.”
The shooting took place late Saturday morning on Cornell Street in Canton Township, a large suburb located in Wayne County, between Detroit and Ann Arbor. Police responded to reports of gunfire at 11:48 a.m., describing the incident as a brief confrontation between the two men, both residents of the neighborhood.
Morris was discovered on the street with multiple gunshot wounds. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office alleges that Johnson initiated a verbal argument with Morris, who was walking down the street, before producing a handgun and firing multiple times. Johnson then retreated to his home, where he barricaded himself before eventually surrendering to police.
Neighbors reported to local media that they had previously had unpleasant encounters with Johnson, describing him as a “combative” nuisance. One resident, Leonard Zabawski, expressed shock at the violence, stating that in his 34 years of living on Cornell Street, he had never witnessed such an incident.
Morris, an engineer with Ford Motor Company and active member of the Michigan Republican Party, lived just one street over and was out for a walk with his family at the time of the incident. His church, St. Michael Lutheran Church of Canton, is organizing a fundraising and food assistance drive for his wife and two daughters, aged 5 and 2.
While law enforcement has not yet released details of the argument that led to the shooting, the Republican National Committee provided some context, stating that the dispute began when Morris’s daughter touched the mulch on Johnson’s lawn. Morris had sent his family home and attempted to defuse the situation, but was fatally shot.
Johnson was arraigned on August 12 in the 35th District Court in Plymouth, where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. He is currently being held without bond, and a competency hearing has been requested by the prosecutor’s office. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 23.