Joshua Phillip Morgan

Deadly force

Troopers V.S. Deeds and T.D. Bradley shot Joshua Morgan after he allegedly ran from them during a traffic stop and fired a handgun. Police said Morgan was wanted in Greenbrier County on warrants for drug and theft charges. An autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist, John T. Cooper, M.D., showed that Morgan was shot several times, in the arm and the head. According to the autopsy report, "Death was the result of multiple bullet wounds to the head, administered at close range by one or more handguns. Three of these injuries exhibit characteristics of contact wounds. This injury pattern indicates purposeful execution of a defenseless victim." Morgan's mother believed her son was murdered because of his knowledge about the illegal conduct of some officers, which included drug sales and buying alcohol for underage girls in exchange for sex. She said they'd harassed and threatened her son in the weeks before his death.