MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Stephen P. Morgan wrote that he had a grudge against Jews and “beautiful,” “smart” Wesleyan students, but most of all, he had a grudge against Johanna Justin-Jinich, 21, the Wesleyan University junior he is accused of gunning down in a cafe near campus Wednesday.
“Kill Johanna,” he scrawled in a notebook police found in his car. “She must Die.”
On a page in the notebook dated May 6, the day of the shooting, he wrote: “I think it OK to kill Jews, and go on a killing spree at this school.”
Morgan, a Colorado resident during much of this decade, was arraigned Friday in Superior Court in Middletown. A judge raised his bail to $15 million. The new revelations about Morgan were contained in the warrant for his arrest.
Morgan surrendered Thursday to Meriden police after a manhunt that began shortly after Justin-Jinich, from Timnath, near Fort Collins, was gunned down.
Four members of Morgan’s family attended the arraignment. His father, James Morgan, called out, “Steve!” as he was being led away by judicial marshals. Stephen Morgan looked back at them briefly.
Richard Brown, Morgan’s attorney, said he plans to argue for a reduction in bail, which he said was excessive. Morgan, Brown said, has no previous convictions, is not a flight risk and the evidence shows there were no other weapons found. He plans to plead not guilty.
“This is a person that turned himself in when he didn’t have to,” Brown said.
Moreover, Brown said Morgan never made an effort to target anyone on the campus.
