Man Charged In Fatal Canton Township Shooting

CANTON TOWNSHIP, MI — A 47-year-old man is facing life in prison after fatally shooting a man in Canton Township during a confrontation, according to police.

Nathan Morris, 35, was shot to death Saturday morning during a confrontation with a neighbor at a home on the 200 block of Cornell Street, near Sheldon and Cherry Hill roads, according to police.

Devereaux Christopher Johnson, of Canton Township, was charged with first-degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of felony firearm. He was placed in jail.

If convicted on the murder charge, he faces life in prison.

Police said Morris was walking down the street Saturday just before noon when he got into an argument with Johnson.

During the argument, Johnson shot Morris multiple times, according to police.

Morris was taken to a nearby hospital where he died, according to police.

Morris was unarmed, according to police.

After the shooting, police said Johnson locked himself inside a home. He eventually surrendered to police.

Morris was a member of the Michigan Republican Party and recently ran for the Canton School Board, according to the group. He also had been the secretary of the 6th Congressional District Republican Committee since 2022.

Hima Kolanagireddy, the former chair of the 6th Congressional District Republican Committee, said in a social media post that Morris' daughter was playing with mulch in a neighbor's yard when the neighbor became angry.

Morris sent his daughter home and was shot, Kolanagireddy wrote.

Canton Police believe that the information was true, but are still working out the details.

"Nathan is one of those few guys who are near perfect. He would do no harm and think no harm. He is just an amazing and gentle soul. He will be missed dearly," Kolanagireddy wrote.

A fundraiser has also been set up for Morris's family. You can find it here.