Trial date set for murder suspect

TYLER – A man accused of shooting and killing a 29-year-old Marine veteran during a road rage incident in February was given a trial date by a judge on Tuesday. Dayton Alexander Morgan, 23, of Ben Wheeler, is accused of murdering Trevor Julian, 29, of Whitehouse, who died on February 13 at the Tyler intersection of East Grande Boulevard and Paluxy Drive. His bond has been set at $1 million since his arrest. He entered a not guilty plea and asserted self-defense.

Judge Austin Reeve Jackson of the 114th District Court stated during a hearing on Tuesday that Dayton’s trial is now scheduled for December 7 of this year. Prior to the trial date, status hearings will take place. In this case, a substantial amount of evidence was mentioned by both the state and the defense, some of which is still being tested at the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab. Judge Jackson refused to lower Morgan’s bond in March.

An argument started when Morgan’s truck stopped “closer to (Julian’s) Tesla” than Morgan wanted to be while following the Tesla at the intersection, according to arrest documents. According to Morgan, Julian unlocked the passenger door of the Tesla and exited. Morgan stayed seated but opened his driver’s door as well. According to Morgan, he fired one round through the glass window while Julian was standing at his partially open driver’s door. Julian was struck in the throat by that shot. Morgan shot Julian in the upper left chest after Julian fell backward and then forward.