ALVARADO, Texas — Meagan Morris, 41, is one of 17 people arrested in connection with a shooting outside the Prairieland Detention Center on July 4. Morris, who was attending a planned fireworks protest supporting detained immigrants, faces multiple serious charges including aggravated assault on a peace officer, terrorism, and attempted murder of a federal officer.
Morris said she arrived at the facility, parked about half a mile away, and stayed inside her car playing on her Nintendo Switch while waiting for others. According to Morris, the original plan was a peaceful noise demonstration with fireworks to support detainees amid ongoing immigration crackdowns.
“I don’t know what happened,” Morris told KERA News. “We did not plan for any violence or shooting.”
Shortly after about a dozen people set off fireworks, a person in the nearby woods opened fire, injuring an Alvarado police officer. Court records initially suggested two shooters but later evidence indicates only one shooter fired 11 rounds. The officer has since recovered.
The FBI described the event as a “coordinated and targeted attack,” and alleged Morris’s home was used as a staging location. Morris refutes these claims, stating only a carpool was organized at her house.
Following the shooting, police arrested Morris about a mile from the scene. Her home was later raided, resulting in damage and additional arrests including her roommate Autumn Hill. Morris’s wife, Stephanie Shiver, emphasized the protest was meant to show solidarity with detainees, denying any plans for violence.
Morris, a transgender woman, has been held in segregated housing at Johnson County Jail and reported difficulties accessing prescribed hormone therapy and other medications. Despite medical records being provided, Morris alleges continued denial of treatment.
Additionally, Morris’s public defender repeatedly misgendered her and refused to use her chosen name, causing further distress.
Awaiting her next court date, Morris called the allegations against her a “ridiculous suicide mission” and maintains she had no involvement in the shooting.
