Jury Finds Nassau Couple Guilty of Attempted Murder

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that John Kite and Ashley Morgan, of Nassau County, were found guilty by a jury of Attempted Second-Degree Murder. Kite was additionally found guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Kite now faces up to life in Florida State Prison; Morgan faces up to 15 years. The Honorable James Daniel has scheduled a sentencing hearing August 26, 2021.

On June 4, 2020, Morgan drove Kite and three juveniles to a Yulee tattoo shop where the victim worked. The victim’s child and the juveniles with Kite and Morgan had a disagreement in which several text messages threatening death and violence were sent from the juveniles in Kite and Morgan’s car to the victim’s child. Kite, Morgan, and the juveniles went to the business to confront the victim and his child. When they arrived at the business, Kite fired multiple times — three shots struck the victim. The victim fired in self-defense, with two shots striking Kite. One of the juveniles with Kite and Morgan suffered a gunshot wound to the ankle and was dropped off at a hospital hours later. Kite and Morgan turned themselves in to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office days later.

The case was investigated by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Donna Thurson and Jackie Blair.