Which musician died at a performance after being shot by his wife? The answer is a legendary trumpeter in the world of jazz. Here’s your answer. Lee Morgan. It all went down February 19 1972 at Slugs' Saloon in New York City's East Village. After fighting between sets, Morgan’s common-law wife Helen drew a pistol and shot him in the club. His injuries proved fatal after bleeding out, waiting on a slow-moving ambulance in a snowstorm. He was 33 years old.