Five Years Later, Boulder City Man Charged in Fatal Shooting

Boulder City detectives arrested a local man on Saturday evening for the 2021 shooting death of his friend, ending a five-year investigation that initially concluded no crime occurred. Police announced the arrest of John Powell Morgan III just after 7 p.m. at a car dealership in Henderson. He was charged with one count of open murder with the use of a deadly weapon related to the May 31, 2021, incident on Fairway Drive.

The case remained open for years because investigators initially determined Morgan acted in self-defense. A news release from the Boulder City Police Department stated that new information received in 2025 prompted a review. Investigators executed a search warrant at Morgan’s residence in April 2025, recovering evidence that supported further inquiry. Over the following year, they identified additional information that established probable cause for the arrest.

Ashley Dingman, the victim’s wife, said she felt relief and hope upon learning of the arrest. She noted that it had been difficult to express her feelings after five and a half years of seeking justice. Scott Dingman’s brother, Joshua, expressed gratitude for the move forward but called for accountability regarding the original handling of the case. He specifically named Police Chief Tim Shea and other department officials in an email statement.

Morgan made his initial court appearance on Monday, with Judge Gregory Mills presiding via video conference after Judge Christopher Tilman recused himself. Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Giles cited new video evidence and previously missing witnesses as the basis for the arrest. He noted that some video segments corresponding to essential times in the case were deleted or renamed to confuse investigators.

Defense attorney Louis Schneider argued that Morgan was not a flight risk and requested $50,000 bail. He presented video showing Dingman holding Morgan in a choke hold with a loaded gun two hours before the shooting. The prosecution asked for bail denial, and Judge Mills set the amount at $1 million. Schneider stated that Morgan will plead not guilty at the next hearing.

Morgan’s mother, Teri Kerr, told reporters that her son is innocent and has received life threats. She attributed the arrest to dirty cops and corrupt politicians. Morgan is scheduled to appear for his arraignment at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Boulder City Justice Court.

Morgan was previously arrested in April 2025 on drug-related charges in his home. Police found cocaine, a digital scale, and baggies on a countertop during that search. Chief Tim Shea stated at the time that the drug arrest was unrelated to the fatal shooting investigation.