Boulder City Man Who Claimed Self-Defense in 2021 Fatal Shooting Arrested on Open Murder Charge Five Years Later

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BOULDER CITY, NV — Boulder City police detectives arrested John Powell Morgan III on Saturday on a charge of open murder with a deadly weapon. The charge stems from the May 31, 2021, shooting death of 40-year-old Scott Dingman. Morgan avoided charges after the shooting by telling investigators he acted in self-defense.

Detectives took Morgan into custody at a car dealership in Henderson, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas reported that a warrant was issued for his arrest and that he is being held without bail. Both reports were compiled by Soap Opera Spy. KTNV also reported that Morgan was expected to make his initial appearance in Boulder City Justice Court at 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 26.

The shooting happened on Fairway Drive in Boulder City. In interviews with investigators at the time, Morgan said Dingman started punching him and threatened him with a gun. Police noticed inconsistencies in his version of events.

Deadly force is justified only against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm. A man throwing punches while threatening you with a gun fits that description, if it happened the way Morgan described it. That “if” is the entire question in front of the court now. Police say his story did not line up, and the case stayed open.

In 2025, new information reached police, and they were able to search Morgan’s home. The search produced evidence that let investigators dig deeper into Dingman’s death. “Investigators continued their efforts over the next year, identifying pertinent information which ultimately led to development of probable cause for the arrest of Morgan III,” police said in a statement quoted in the coverage. The sources do not describe what that evidence was.

The same search turned up about 30 grams of cocaine, a digital scale, and numerous small baggies. Morgan was later indicted on charges including possession of cocaine with intent to sell and maintaining an illegal dwelling.

KTNV’s 13 Investigates team reported that Dingman’s family had complained that officers did not take a proper approach to his death.

The open murder charge works like this in Nevada. Prosecutors file one broad murder accusation that covers first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter. The exact degree, if any, gets sorted out as the case moves forward. 8 News Now noted that Nevada and Michigan both use the charge.

Morgan has been arrested, not convicted, and he is presumed innocent. His self-defense claim has not gone away. He can still raise it in court, and prosecutors and the court will decide where this case lands.

More from USA Carry:

• New Jersey Man Arrested After Using a ‘Ghost Gun’ To Defend Himself Against Two Home Invaders
• San Antonio Shooting Ruled Self-Defense After Initial Misidentification
• No Charges To Be Filed For Apparent Self-Defense Shooting
• Los Angeles Man Disarms Alleged Attacker, Fatally Shoots Him — Then Gets Arrested
• Nashville Man Fatally Shot After Alleged Assault and Threats; Self-Defense Claim Under Investigation

The mindset lesson for anyone who carries has nothing to do with gear. A decision not to charge is not an acquittal. A self-defense shooting gets measured against the physical evidence and against every statement you give, and this case shows that a file closed without charges can be reopened years later. Knowing Nevada’s concealed carry laws tells you where and how you can carry. What protects you after a shooting is a justified use of force and an account that matches the evidence.

I will continue tracking this case as it moves through Boulder City Justice Court.

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