Shannon Gilday is wanted for the murder of Jordan Morgan in Kentucky. Jordan Morgan was fatally shot at her family home in Richmond. According to police reports Shannon Gilday forced his way into the home armed with a rifle and would fatally shoot Jordan Morgan as she lied in her bed. After shooting Jordan Morgan Shannon Gilday was involved in an exchange of gunfire with her father Wesley Morgan who was injured however the injuries are not considered to be life threatening. Shannon Gilday would then flee the Morgan residence and Kentucky police have been searching for him since. Police do warn that they believe Shannon Gilday is armed and dangerous. Wesley Morgan is a former Kentucky lawmaker.
Shannon Gilday More News
Kentucky State Police have named a suspect in the killing of lawyer Jordan Morgan, who was shot Tuesday morning while at her parents’ Richmond home.
Shannon Vincent Gilday, 23, of Taylor Mill, has an active warrant for murder, burglary, criminal mischief, assault and two counts of attempted murder, state police said in a statement Thursday.
The investigation indicates Gilday forced his way into the home about 4 a.m., armed with a rifle, and almost immediately shot the 32-year-old Morgan while she was in bed, said Sgt. Robert Purdy, a spokesman for the state police.
While “there are still a lot of things we’re looking at” investigators currently “don’t believe there is any connection between the two previously,” Purdy said.
A tip on Tuesday night from someone outside the area helped lead police to identify Gilday, he said.
Surveillance footage from the house in the 1200 block of Willis Branch Road showed a person investigators believe was Gilday before the incident, in a dark camo or tactical-style jacket and pants, a hooded sweatshirt, gloves and a facemask, walking around the house moments before the shooting, state police said.
After shooting Jordan Morgan, Gilday then allegedly confronted her father Wesley Morgan — a former Kentucky lawmaker — and gunshots were exchanged between the two. Wesley Morgan sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and Gilday left the scene in a white passenger car, Purdy said.
As for motive, he said it’s still under investigation. While police “may have ideas,” he said, they need to find Gilday. Purdy said they have no information about any connections Gilday had to Madison County.
“It doesn’t appear it was necessarily just a burglary,” he said. “There was a criminal action and a violent intent, we believe.”
But Purdy also said police didn’t necessarily believe Jordan Morgan was specifically targeted, adding, “we’re still trying to figure out exactly what happened.”
He would not say what kind of rifle the man carried, but said he may have been wounded in the exchange of fire before he fled.
“We need the public’s assistance in locating him,” Purdy said.
The Madison County Coroner’s Office has said Jordan Morgan was shot “more than once.”
Gilday is believed to be driving a White 2016 Toyota Corolla with minor damage to the front grill and a license plate of 379-VMJ. He is about 6-foot tall and 167 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Gilday does not have a criminal history, according to an online search of Kentucky records. He is considered armed and dangerous and police urge the public not to approach the vehicle or attempt to contact him.
Jordan Morgan was a lawyer who had also worked as a deputy press secretary for former Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration.
She earned degrees from Eastern Kentucky and Northern Kentucky universities. She earned her law degree at NKU.
Shannon Gilday Arrested
The search for Jordan Morgan’s murder suspect, Shannon Gilday, ended just after 4:30 a.m. Monday when he was found walking along Barnes Mill Road by Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
Gilday is charged with murder, burglary in the first degree, criminal mischief, assault, and two counts of attempted murder.
Morgan was killed early Tuesday morning in a home invasion on Willis Branch Road in Madison County. She is the daughter of former state representative C. Wesley Morgan.
Police believe 23-year-old Shannon Vince Gilday, of Taylor Mill, forced his way into the home at approximately 4:00 am, armed with a rifle.
Once inside, police believe he shot and killed Morgan while she was in bed. Based on their initial investigation, police believe there was not a connection between Morgan and Shannon Gilday prior to the incident. Sgt. Robert Purdy said they currently believe she was not the target
After the initial shooting, police say Shannon Gilday confronted the homeowner when both fired gunshots at each other. The homeowner sustained non-life-threatening injuries and the armed suspect left the scene in a white passenger car.
Investigators are still working to determine a motive.
Katie Gilday, the mother of the suspect released a statement:
“First I want to state that I am greatly saddened for the Morgan family, friends and loved ones for the pain and suffering it is believed by the police that my son has caused them and especially for the loss of their daughter Jordan. It is a terrible tragedy.
My son Shannon Gilday, who I love so dearly, has not been of sound mind the last couple of weeks, distraught with the certainty a nuclear war is imminent. He spoke of building a bunker and the CIA following him. I tried to get him psychiatric help but to no avail.
I plead to Shannon to turn himself in so that he can get the help he so desperately needs.
Meanwhile, I thank my family and friends for their love and support and ask for our privacy as we navigate through this unthinkable tragedy.”
Police say they learned about Gilday following a “credible tip” Tuesday evening from someone who doesn’t live in the area.
“A lot of times, we say ‘if you see something or you think you know something, call us.’ And that clue and that credible tip is what led to the developments in this investigation.”
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