NEWS RELEASE
City of Carbondale, Illinois
March 29, 2023
CARBONDALE – Following an extensive investigation, Daurice T. Morse, age 20 of Cairo, was arrested for 1st Degree Murder in connection with the Jacob Gary homicide. On 03-28-23 at approximately 1:00 p.m., officers with the US Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force in Southern Illinois and the US Marshals, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division - Gulf Coast Violent Offenders & Fugitive Task Force arrested Morse in Houston, Texas. Carbondale Police detectives spent a substantial amount of time and resources to locate Morse and continue the homicide investigation to ensure justice for the Gary family. Jackson County State’s Attorney Joe Cervantez previously indicted Morse in Jackson County for First Degree Murder in the shooting death of Jacob Gary at West College Street and South Illinois Avenue in the fall of 2022. Extradition proceedings are underway to extradite Morse to Jackson County to stand trial. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200. The investigation into the incident is active and ongoing.
Daurice T Morse, 20 years old from Cairo
Prior Release (Update #2) - In reference to the shooting incident on 10/23/22 in the 200 block of West College Street the City of Carbondale Police Department has identified the suspect as Daurice T Morse, 20 years old from Cairo. On 10-27-22, detectives applied for and received a juvenile arrest warrant for a 15 year old male Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in relation to the murder investigation of Jacob Gary. On 10-31-22 the juvenile in question was located and arrested by the Marion Police Department in Marion, IL. The juvenile was transported to the Carbondale Police Department where he was processed and then incarcerated in the Jackson County Jail pending transport to a Juvenile Detention Facility. The police department is still seeking Daurice T. Morse, 20 years old from Cairo, for the arrest warrant for First Degree Murder and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm with a $2,000,000.00 dollar bond. Anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of Morse is encouraged to call the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200. The investigation into the incident is active and ongoing.
Prior Release– In reference to the shooting incident on 10/23/22 in the 200 block of West College Street the City of Carbondale Police Department has identified the suspect as Daurice T Morse, 20 years old from Cairo. During the course of the investigation officers learned the victim, identified as Jacob C Gary, 19 years old from Marion was involved in a dispute Morse at the time of the incident. On 10/24/22 detectives with assistance from the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office, obtained an arrest warrant for Morse charging him with First Degree Murder and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm with a $2,000,000.00 dollar bond. Anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of Morse is encouraged to call the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200. The investigation into the incident is active and ongoing.
Prior Release – On 10/23/22 at approximately 1:30 a.m., City of Carbondale Police Officers were conducting foot patrols in the area of the 200 block of West College Street monitoring crowds when a disturbance broke out. Several shots were fired and the officers responded to the area. The officers located an individual who sustained gunshot wounds and they immediately began life saving efforts. The Jackson County Ambulance Service transported the victim to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. The victim succumbed to the injuries while being treated. The victim’s name is not being released at this time pending notifications to family and loved ones. The investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the City of Carbondale Police Department at (618) 549-2121. You may also call the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (618) 549-COPS (2677) or the Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tip line at (618) 687-COPS (2677). Anonymous tips may also be made by selecting the “Crime Stoppers” tab located on the main page of this website. Please help yourself, along with your county, its communities and the university campus by using these numbers if you witness, or have any information pertaining to, a crime. Cash rewards for information which leads to an arrest are also made anonymously. Remember, crime doesn’t pay, but Crime Stoppers does!
The mission of the Carbondale Police Department is to work in partnership with our community to preserve life, protect human rights, protect property and improve quality of life by providing police service to all in a fair, sensitive and professional manner.