Chef Carl Morgan
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE/Gray News) – Loved ones have identified the man who was fatally shot during a carjacking in a Louisiana parking lot while picking up his son from day care.
Family and friends said Carl Morgan, who was a sous chef at Brennan’s Restaurant in New Orleans, lost his life Tuesday night after being a victim of a deadly shooting.
“Everyone is very hurt, very raw. I mean, shocked,” Brennan’s Restaurant General Manager Christian Pendleton said.
Pendleton said Morgan was a cook, a longtime partner, but above all, a father.
“What was most important was his son and how much of a dad he was,” he said.
According to New Orleans police, the shooting occurred around 5:15 p.m. at the Abeona House Child Discovery Center on Canal Street.
New Orleans Police Department Supt. Nicholas Gernon said the accused shooter, 21-year-old Raymond Wells, was found later that night, shot in the head inside the stolen vehicle on Interstate 10.
The 21-year-old was said to be “in extremely grave condition” at an area hospital.
Gernon said if Wells recovers from his wounds, he will be booked with first-degree murder.
Authorities said it wasn’t immediately known if someone had shot him or if his gunshot wound was self-inflicted.
According to Gernon, officers initially responded to reports of gunfire about a block away from where Morgan was found dead.
“We believe the shooter was up to something in that block,” Gernon said. “Somebody noticed, and [Wells] opened fire on them. Then, he went a block away and encountered our carjacking victim.”
After Wells allegedly killed Morgan at the day care, he sped away in his vehicle before being found on I-10 near the Bonnabel exit.
Morgan’s partner posted online that he was lost to senseless violence and that she’s broken at the thought he won’t be able to see their young son grow up.
“A man lost his life. A child lost his father. A partner lost her love of her life, and we all lost a vibrant light in the city of New Orleans,” Shawn Anglim, pastor at First Grace United Methodist Church next to the day care, said.
Anglim said one of the teachers at the day care heard the gunfire that night and rushed all of the children inside.
Loved ones described Morgan as a leader in the kitchen and an all-around great person.
Pendleton said Morgan’s passion project was the Fried Chicken Festival. Brennan’s will honor him at the event this weekend by serving his fried chicken sandwich and more.
“I don’t know if there’s a better way to celebrate a chef than to cook their food and enjoy their food and enjoy the people you’re working with and seeing the people that are eating it and seeing how happy they are,” Pendleton said, adding all proceeds from Fried Chicken Fest will go to Morgan’s family.
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