Stephan Morgan, 33, was tackled and restrained by bystanders outside Coach's Bar & Grill in Stevensville last Friday after he pulled a handgun from his car following a dispute with restaurant staff, and a search of his vehicle turned up an AR-15-style rifle, dozens of loaded magazines and a ballistic vest. Morgan now faces seven felony charges, including a threat-of-terrorism count, stemming from the confrontation in the restaurant's parking lot.
A Former Employee's Visit Turns Into a Standoff
Coach's Bar & Grill has operated near the intersection of Red Arrow Highway and Glenlord Road in Lincoln Township, just outside Stevensville, since 2012, specializing in smoked meats, according to Coach's Bar & Grill. Morgan used to work at the restaurant, and he was there eating and handing out flowers to employees last Friday before things escalated, as reported by KABB.
Lincoln Township Police Chief David Burrow said a disagreement with restaurant staff led an employee to follow Morgan out to his vehicle, where police say he grabbed a handgun from inside his car, per the outlet's report. That employee believed Morgan intended to shoot him, and bystanders tackled Morgan before community members helped restrain him until officers arrived.
Bystanders Act Before Anyone Is Hurt
Morgan reportedly said he wanted to do something good before doing something bad, an apparent reference to the flowers he had just handed out to employees, according to the same account. Officers were called to the restaurant shortly before 6 p.m. Friday.
Trunk Held a Rifle, a Vest and Dozens of Loaded Magazines
Officers found six loaded handgun magazines in a backpack and secured the handgun Morgan had been carrying, the report states. In the trunk of his car, police say they discovered a loaded AR-15-style rifle — a Stag Arms model chambered in .556 — along with a Glock handgun case and a Level 4 ballistic vest packed with additional loaded AR-15 magazines.
Investigators also recovered at least 25 more loaded magazines from the trunk, including two 100-round drum magazines, 11 30-round magazines and 12 42-round magazines, all loaded with .556 ammunition, per the same report. The handgun was registered to Morgan, but the rifle was registered to someone else, and police have not said how he came to possess it as the investigation continues.
Multi-Agency Response, No Injuries Reported
The Lincoln Township Police Department led the response, assisted by the Berrien County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan State Police, according to 95.3 MNC. Police confirmed no one was hurt in the confrontation and publicly credited the bystanders who tackled and restrained Morgan for acting quickly to neutralize the threat, the station reported.
Morgan's Stated Intent Complicates the Terrorism Charge
According to the probable cause document, Morgan said he intended to kill himself and family members and was not planning to harm anyone at the restaurant. That account sits alongside the threat-of-terrorism charge Morgan now faces, one of seven felony counts that also include carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent and three separate felony firearm charges.
Michigan's Terrorism and Firearm Statutes Carry Mandatory Prison Time
Under Michigan Compiled Laws Section 750.543m, making a threat or false report of terrorism is a high-severity felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000, according to the Michigan Legislature. The statute allows for felony prosecution even if a suspect lacked the full capability to carry out the threat, and a 2025 Michigan appellate ruling requires prosecutors to prove Morgan acted with reckless disregard that his conduct would be perceived as a threat of violence, per the State Appellate Defender Office.
Michigan's felony firearm statute, found at MCL 750.227b, adds a mandatory two-year prison term for a first offense that must be served consecutively to any sentence for the underlying felony, without eligibility for probation or parole, per the Michigan Legislature. Carrying a concealed weapon without a license under MCL 750.227 carries up to five years in prison and a $2,500 fine, and Michigan law separately allows for additional penalties when a violent crime or threat is committed while wearing body armor — a statute that could come into play given the Level 4 vest found in Morgan's trunk, though it remains unclear whether prosecutors will pursue that charge.
Arraignment Brings a $250,000 Bond
Morgan was arraigned Tuesday at the Berrien County Courthouse and ordered held on a $250,000 bond, according to WSJM. He remains in custody at the Berrien County Jail as the case proceeds.
The case echoes a March 2025 incident in which Michigan prosecutors filed the same threat-of-terrorism charge against an MSU student accused of threats, showing prosecutors' willingness to use the statute in potential mass-violence cases. Berrien County has also seen other serious gun cases recently, including a road-rage shooting case in which the victim survived a gunshot wound.
