Updated: What we know about Shannon Gilday. Suspect’s mother releases statement
The investigation into the death of Jordan Morgan at her father’s home in Madison County took major steps forward Thursday, as police named a suspect who they believe opened fire at C. Wesley Morgan’s house.
Kentucky State Police announced they are searching for a suspect and need the public’s help finding him. His name is Shannon V. Gilday, 23, and he’s from Taylor Mill.
Police named Gilday as a suspect two days after the shooting on Tuesday. State police said they used their best detectives and received important help from the community to lead them to Gilday.
Here’s the latest of what’s known about Gilday and the investigation.
More on Shannon V. Gilday, state police’s suspect
Gilday is a 23-year-old man from northern Kentucky who now has an active arrest warrant for murder, assault and other charges related to the crime, police said. State police said he is approximately 6 feet tall, 167 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Gilday was last seen wearing a camouflage or tactical style jacket and pants, dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, gloves and a light-colored facemask on surveillance footage at Morgan’s residence, state police said.
Police believed Gilday was driving a white 2016 Toyota Corolla with minor damage to the front grill, and a license plate of 379-VMJ, state police said.
State police also believed Gilday had some camping gear in his vehicle. People in rural areas or state and national parks were encouraged to be on the lookout for the suspect.
Gilday may have been pursuing bunker at Madison County home
In a statement, Gilday’s mother said her son was not “of sound mind” and was worried about a nuclear war. He “spoke of building a bunker,” his mother said. The Morgans’ home featured a 2,000-square-foot, fully stocked and furnished bunker behind a massive steel and concrete door, according to real estate listings.
The bunker was advertised as being capable of withstanding nuclear, biological and chemical fallout.
When asked if the bunker could’ve been a motive behind Gilday’s attack, Sgt. Robert Purdy with state police said they won’t know an exact motive until they speak with Gilday, but they are aware of that possibility and are looking into it.
“Until we locate Gilday and speak to him about a motive, I am unable to say with certainty what his motive might have been,” Purdy said.
Police hope public attention will help them find Gilday
As the search for Gilday continued Friday, state police said they’re hoping the added attention brought to the case will help local agencies get a quicker arrest.
A state police spokesperson said they don’t know if investigators have asked out-of-state law enforcement departments to help, but they’re thinking media coverage of the case will help put the case on the radar for other agencies.
“We’ve sent out a broadcast to Kentucky agencies as far as being on the lookout for any information about Mr. Gilday,” Purdy said. “I think with the media coverage, outside agencies are also probably aware and keenly aware, especially those around the Cincinnati area.”
How did state police identify Gilday as the suspect?
State police said they received a credible tip Tuesday evening that helped identify Gilday as the suspect. They said the tip came from someone outside of Madison County.
Gilday can also be seen on surveillance footage at Morgan’s home at the time of the crime.
Did Gilday have connections to the Morgans?
According to state police, Gilday and Jordan Morgan had no prior connections despite Jordan Morgan’s professional background as a lawyer in northern Kentucky. State police said they had ideas on what the motive behind the shooting might have been, but they won’t know for sure until they capture the suspect.
How to contact Kentucky police if Gilday is spotted
Gilday is considered armed and dangerous and people are discouraged from confronting Gilday directly if he’s seen in public, state police said. People with information about Gilday’s whereabouts are encouraged to contact Kentucky State Police Post 7 at 859-623-2404.
State police also encouraged people outside of Kentucky to call 911 if they think they’ve seen Gilday or the car he’s driving.
How Tuesday’s shooting in Madison County unfolded
According to state police, Gilday forced his way into Morgan’s home at approximately 4 a.m. Tuesday armed with a rifle. He immediately began firing shots once inside the residence, fatally shooting Jordan Morgan in her bed.
Gilday confronted the homeowner after shooting Jordan Morgan and exchanged gunshots, state police said. There’s a possibility Gilday was injured in the shooting, according to state police.
The homeowner, C. Wesley Morgan, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was released from a hospital later that day. State police said Gilday fled the scene in a white passenger car after the shootout with the homeowner.
Jordan Morgan’s mom: Slain lawyer ‘had no enemies’
Morgan’s mother, Lisa Foster, said her daughter “had no enemies” and was “absolutely a wonderful person and the smartest person I ever knew.”
Foster told the Herald-Leader she would text Morgan every morning and every night. Their last messages to each other were Monday night, less than 12 hours before the fatal shooting.
This story was originally published February 25, 2022 at 7:23 AM.
