Murder suspect held on $3 million bail

RITZVILLE – A man charged with murder in the first degree is being held in Adams County Jail following extradition from the State of Oregon.

Grayson Douglas Wrae Morris is charged with the shooting death of his father, Doug Morris, at his home in Ritzville May 14. The shooting occurred around 5:30 a.m., and Morris was apprehended near Portland, Oregon, later that day following a high-speed chase. He was held in Multnomah County Jail on charges including first-degree robbery with a firearm, attempting to elude by vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment and four counts each of unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree attempted murder after allegedly shooting at law enforcement officers.

Because Morris would not agree to extradition, a request from the governor of the State of Washington to the Governor of the State of Oregon was required for extradition.

Morris, 26, is being held in Adams County Jail on $3 million bail for charges of Murder in the First Degree with a Firearm Enhancement and Burglary in the First Degree with a Firearm Enhancement. He is scheduled for an omnibus hearing in the Adams County Courthouse August 24, a pre-trial hearing September 14, and a trial set to begin September 22.

According to court documents, the State of Washington is intending to seek a sentence above the standard range for Murder in the First Degree. The court documents state the sentence will be based on the defendant demonstrating or displaying an egregious lack of remorse, as well as the offense involving a destructive and foreseeable impact on persons other than the victim. According to court documents, both the victim and his girlfriend were asleep in bed when they were awakened by a loud crash followed by gunshots in their bedroom.

Morris’s public defender, Barrett J. Scudder, filed a notice of intent to rely on insanity defense, reserving the right for Morris to change his plea from “not guilty” to “not guilty by reason of insanity.”

Kyle Smith, attorney for the defendant, filed a motion to authorize funds for investigative services to be provided at public expense.

Scudder and Smith stated the defendant chooses to reserve the right to object to being shackled in future hearings, and bail is subject to the defendant’s rights for reconsideration.