Background: News footage of the home of Susan Morse (KSAZ). Inset: Aaron Morse (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office).
An Arizona man dialed 911 after allegedly shooting his mother, then he apparently changed his mind and said she was just in her pottery studio.
Aaron Morse, 51, was charged with second-degree murder after police said he shot and killed his mother, 74-year-old Susan Morse, on April 16. According to court documents obtained by KTVK, a local CBS affiliate, officers responded to a 911 call made by Aaron Morse that afternoon. Aaron Morse spoke with dispatchers while sitting outside waiting for police, then asked if he could call “the whole thing off,” KTVK reported.
KSAZ, a local Fox affiliate, also obtained the court documents, which classified the call from Aaron Morse as an “unknown trouble call.” During the call, the defendant reportedly also told dispatchers that he and his mother had just had an argument and that nothing was wrong — she was just in her pottery studio.
When police arrived at the residence, they found Susan Morse with a gunshot wound to her head.
She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Aaron Morse allegedly shot his mother, then reportedly placed the weapon in some Tupperware after unloading it. He did not provide dispatchers with any information about the argument he claimed to have had with his mother.
During his first court appearance, prosecutors said that Aaron Morse has a history with alcohol. Documents stated that officers reportedly smelled alcohol on the suspect when they responded to the scene. They also asked him what happened before the alleged shooting, to which he responded, “Arguing.”
Aaron Morse also had blood on his hands and shoes, police stated. The documents also stated that Aaron Morse asked about the process he was about to go through. When the police told him that a judge would decide, Aaron Morse reportedly said, “Probably not. I have a heinous crime.”
Aaron Morse was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on one count of second-degree murder and one count of tampering with evidence.
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