Defendant LaForrest Morgan was previously convicted of Manslaughter in 2002.
Baltimore, Md. (March 25, 2026) – Today, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office announced that Defendant LaForrest Morgan was sentenced to 70 years of incarceration, the first 25 years without the possibility of parole, for the non-fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man at a Chinese Carryout restaurant in the Penn North Neighborhood. The Defendant was convicted of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, Possession of a Firearm with a Disqualifying Conviction, Wear/Carry/Transport of a Handgun, Ammunition, and Discharging. Assistant State’s Attorney Gleda Kuperman of the State’s Attorney’s Gun Violence Enforcement Division prosecuted this case.
“It is evident from the facts in this case that the Defendant was clearly attempting to kill this young man. It is nothing short of a miracle that the victim survived this blatant shooting,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “The Defendant's prior record demonstrates a troubling and ongoing disregard for the law and the value of human life. I applaud BPD for their outstanding investigative work and commend our Gun Violence Enforcement Division for their dedicated efforts in ensuring this individual is held accountable, and I thank the court for imposing a lengthy and suitable sentence.”
On June 28, 2024, at approximately 8:57 p.m., Baltimore Police officers responded to No. 1 Chinese Carryout located at 2416 Pennsylvania Avenue for a report of a shooting. During the course of the investigation, detectives collected video surveillance footage and interviewed witnesses, revealing that the 29-year-old male victim was engaged in a physical altercation inside the carryout location with the Defendant, LaForrest Morgan. The Defendant pulled out a handgun and shot the victim in the stomach twice, and attempted to fire a third round but missed. The Defendant then robbed the victim of his blue and orange cross-body Air Jordan bag and its contents.
The Defendant then left the location with the victim’s property. Two separate Baltimore City police officers, familiar with the Defendant through prior arrest and interactions, identified the shooter in the video surveillance footage.
The Defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2002 Manslaughter conviction and a 1999 Possession with Intent to Distribute conviction.