Joey Gibbons gunned to death in Lothian; cops tag Drew Morgan for murder

LOTHIAN, MD. — Anne Arundel Police have arrested a man for allegedly shooting to death a Churchton man near Lothian.

Police say that on Friday, July 3, 2015 at approximately 9:22 p.m., the Anne Arundel County Police Department responded to a wooded area near the intersection of Margarita Street and Tequila Straight Drive, Lothian, Maryland for a sick/injured subject.

Upon arrival officers located an unresponsive adult male lying on a path. Fire Department personnel arrived on scene and pronounced the male deceased. The male displayed obvious trauma and was the apparent victim of a homicide.

The Anne Arundel County Police Homicide Unit along with the Evidence Collection Unit responded to the scene. The victim was positively identified as Joseph Steven Gibbons a 21-year-old male from the 5000 block of Lee Way Drive in Churchton, Maryland.

The victim’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner located in Baltimore so an autopsy could be completed to determine the exact cause and manner of death.

Detectives are still examining the crime scene as well as interviewing several witnesses.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death of Joseph “Joey” Gibbons as multiple gunshot wounds and the manner homicide.

The Anne Arundel County Police Homicide Unit along with several other facets of the police department (Evidence Collection Unit, District Detective Unit, and Fugitive Apprehension Team) continued to follow up on leads and analyze evidence in the case of Joseph “Joey” Gibbons. Homicide detectives interviewed numerous witnesses and sorted through tips as they came into the Anne Arundel County Police tip line 410-222-4700. The information provided from witnesses, the community and the tip line showed the resolve of the citizens for not letting violent crimes go unsolved. The information provided led police to the identification of the suspect who shot and killed Joey Gibbons.

On Sunday evening, July 5, 2015, homicide detectives executed search warrants in both Anne Arundel and Howard Counties. With the assistance of the Howard County Special Operations Section, the suspect, Andrew Thomas Morgan, was taken into custody without incident in the 6700 block of Pirch Way, Elkridge, Maryland. Andrew “Drew” Thomas Morgan resides in the 6700 block of Pirch Way, Elkridge, Maryland. Investigation revealed Andrew Morgan had ties to the Lothian area of Anne Arundel County.

Suspect: Andrew Thomas Morgan, 28, of 6721 Pirch Way, Elkridge, MD was charged with the following crimes in regards to the murder of Joseph Gibbons: First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, Illegal Possession of a Firearm after convicted of a crime of violence, Wear Carry Transport of a firearm, and Firearm used in a Crime of Violence.

Morgan is being held without bail at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center.

Police say that, “This is still a very active and fluid investigation. As the investigation continues we still urge anyone with information on this incident to contact Detective Dan Myers of the Homicide Unit at 410-222-3413. One can remain anonymous by contacting the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers.”