Stephen P. Morgan, accused in the slaying of Wesleyan student Joanna Justin-Jinich, was arrested Thursday night.
Morgan stopped by a convenience store in Meridien, about 10 miles from Wesleyan University. When he saw his photo in a newspaper, he decided to give himself up.
He asked the store clerk - who at the time had no clue who Morgan was - to call the police.
He was arrested a short time later outside the store.
Morgan and Justin-Jinich had known each other since at least 2007 when they both attended New York University. That same year Justin-Jinich filed a complaint against Morgan accusing him of calling her repeatedly and sending insulting emails.
One email included the warning: "You're going to have a lot more problems down the road if you can't take any fucking criticism Joanna."
They were both interviewed by university police, but Justin-Jinich decided not to press charges.
Johanna Justin-Jinich
An AP report states that an eye witness to the shooting, Susan Gerdhart, 22, told police she was paying for a salad in the cafe when she heard four loud popping noises. She turned to see smoke in the air and faced the suspect who fired three more shots, according to the warrant.
Gerdhart noticed that a female behind the counter was no longer standing and that the shooter was standing over the counter with his gun pointed downward.
When police responded to the scene they found the victim moaning and shaking on the floor. They recovered seven shell casings at the scene.
After the shooting, Morgan used a pulley system similar to a dumb waiter, to get from the main floor of the bookstore to the basement. He ditched his wig and gun before leaving the building.
It turns out the cops actually stopped Morgan - took down his name and contact information - then let him go.
Morgan abandoned his red 2001 Sentra near the bookstore. Police found a handgun case in the car lying partly open and two handgun magazines. A journal was also found that contained Morgan's plan to rape and kill Justin-Jinich.
Morgan had an additional plan to go on a campus shooting spree. His targets were Wesleyan students and members of the Jewish community.
One entry included the following: "I think it okay to kill Jews and go on a killing spree... Kill Johanna. She must Die" - according to an arrest warrant released Friday.
Ms Justin-Jinich came from a Jewish family. Her grandmother was a Holocaust survivor.
A photo of Johanna
released courtesy of her family
Police got the arrest warrant Thursday charging Morgan with murder. The suspect was arraigned in court Friday on $15 M bond.
Video of Morgan in court - here.
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