Victim and Suspect both Hospitalized After Shots Fired at Wedding Reception

On the evening of December 9th at approximately 7:08 pm, a 9-1-1 call was received in reference to a subject threatening to shoot guests at a wedding reception. Frederick County Sheriffs Office (FCSO) deputies were initially dispatched to the Historic Jordan Springs venue, off Jordan Springs Road in eastern Frederick County, about a subject who made statements of shooting other guests after he was asked to leave the event.

As deputies were responding, the call was updated to a possible shots fired incident, with little more information available other than a possible suspect vehicle description. The first arriving deputy noted a vehicle leaving the scene and radioed that information to other units. Deputies C.W. Vorous and T.L Bridgeforth located a victim with a gunshot wound to the leg and began administering first-aid until EMS units could arrive. Deputy S.A. Beylor located the suspect vehicle driving erratically on Jordan Springs Road and made a traffic stop at the Jordan Springs Market where the male driver was detained without incident.

Wedding reception shooting suspect John Morningstar had been a “groomsman” at the wedding he is later accused of threatening to shoot “anyone still there” at the reception after being asked to leave due to extreme intoxication and behavioral issues. He is believed to have shot one person non-fatally before fleeing the scene. Multiple firearms and ammunition were found in his car after being stopped and arrested without incident by a FCSO deputy. – Mug Shot Photo Courtesy of Northwestern Adult Regional Detention Center

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the suspect, identified as John Morningstar, DOB: 5/6/2001, was a groomsman in the wedding who had been asked to leave after becoming overly intoxicated. Morningstar left and was reported to have made threats to come back to the event and shoot anyone still there. A short time later, Morningstar was observed in the parking lot driving recklessly and doing donuts. Another attendee, Kevin Huff, DOB: 2/23/89, ended up in a confrontation with Morningstar that resulted in Huff being shot in the leg before Morningstar fled the scene.

While on the traffic stop, a gunshot wound to Morningstar’s foot was discovered, which is believed to have been self-inflicted, and EMS units responded for assessment and treatment to the wound. Multiple firearms were located within Morningstar’s vehicle, along with various ammunition, including the suspected weapon used against the victim. Morningstar will initially be charged with DUI, Malicious Wounding and two (2) counts of Reckless Handling of a Firearm.

Both males were transported to Winchester Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries where they both were listed in stable condition at the time of this release (Dec. 10, 2023). Morningstar was released from the hospital and transferred to the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center Monday, December 11.

(From a Release by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office)