Enfield Father Of 2 Young Children Fatally Shot: Report

ENFIELD, CT — An Enfield man was sleeping in an upstairs bedroom when a Somers man allegedly broke through a rear sliding door, went upstairs with a handgun and shot him several times, according to an arrest warrant released Wednesday.

The warrant identifies the victim as Mark Morgan, 34, of Enfield. He was pronounced dead at the South Road home around 4:20 a.m. Tuesday after troopers and paramedics tried to save him.

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Joshua Freitag, 33, of Somers, is charged with murder, home invasion and two counts of risk of injury to a child.

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

Freitag later asked why Morgan's car was in the driveway if he was not there, according to the warrant.

The woman said she eventually fell asleep on a couch downstairs. Morgan was sleeping in an upstairs bedroom, while two children were asleep in their own rooms.

She told police she awoke to the sound of breaking glass and saw that Freitag had entered through the rear sliding door. Freitag asked where Morgan was and began walking upstairs, the warrant said.

The woman followed him and shouted to warn Morgan. She said Freitag entered the bedroom holding a handgun and fired repeatedly until she believed the gun was empty. She also told police that Freitag struck Morgan after the shooting.

She called 911 and told Freitag to go outside and surrender, according to the warrant. The woman also said Freitag was not living at the home at the time.

When troopers arrived, they found Freitag near the front door with his arms raised and his hands open. He then went to his knees, followed their commands and was taken into custody without incident.

Inside the home, troopers found broken glass near the rear door. A handgun with its slide open, an empty magazine and a holster were found near the front entrance, the warrant said.

Morgan was found unresponsive on the floor of the upstairs bedroom with multiple gunshot wounds. The woman and the two children were not injured.

Freitag appeared Wednesday in state Superior Court in Rockville. His attorney asked that his $1.5 million bond be lowered 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.

Morgan's loved ones told NBC Connecticut that he was the father of two young sons and worked in commercial flooring.

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

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