Fundraiser Launched For Children Of Father Killed In Somers

SOMERS, CT — A fundraiser has been launched to help pay funeral expenses and support the two young children of Mark Anthony Morgan, the 34-year-old Enfield man killed inside a Somers home last week.

The GoFundMe campaign describes Morgan as a hardworking, kind-hearted man whose greatest joy was being a father. The campaign has a $13,000 goal.

Money raised will first go toward funeral and memorial costs. The organizer said any money left over will be placed in a trust for Morgan's children.

A memorial service is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, at Browne Memorial Funeral Chapels, 43 Shaker Road in Enfield, according to a service announcement shared with Patch. Family and friends are welcome to attend.

What police say happened

Morgan was sleeping in an upstairs bedroom early Aug. 18 when Joshua Freitag, 33, of Somers, allegedly forced his way through a rear sliding door at the South Road home, according to an arrest warrant released by Connecticut State Police.

A woman inside the home told investigators that Freitag had called and texted her before the shooting, asking why Morgan was there. She denied he was in the house because Freitag and Morgan had a history of not getting along and had fought before, the warrant said.

The woman said she later fell asleep on a couch downstairs. Morgan was upstairs, and two children were asleep in their rooms.

She told police she awoke to breaking glass and saw Freitag come through the rear door. Freitag asked where Morgan was, then headed upstairs with a handgun as the woman followed and shouted a warning, according to the warrant.

The woman said Freitag entered the bedroom and fired repeatedly until she believed the gun was empty. She told investigators that he also struck Morgan after the shooting.

Morgan was found unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at about 4:20 a.m. The woman and the two children were not injured.

Troopers found Freitag near the front door with his hands raised. Police said he followed their commands and was taken into custody without incident. Investigators found a handgun with its slide open, an empty magazine and a holster near the entrance, the warrant said.

Court case

Freitag is charged with murder, home invasion and two counts of risk of injury to a child.

At his first court appearance, his attorney asked a judge to lower his $1.5 million bond to $250,000, arguing that Freitag owns the home and is not a danger to the public, NBC Connecticut reported.

Judge Alyce L. Alfano kept the bond at $1.5 million and issued three protective orders. Freitag is due back in court Sept. 18.

The charges are allegations. Freitag has not been convicted, and the State Police investigation remains active.

For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.