BATON ROUGE, LA – A Louisiana man who went on a violent rampage, taking a life and wounding several others, has been sentenced to a total of 120 years in prison after pleading guilty to a series of charges just before his trial was set to begin.
Aaron Morgan, 32, admitted guilt on Monday to charges including manslaughter, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and robbery using a firearm. His plea was part of an agreement that saw his initial second-degree murder charge reduced, resulting in what is effectively a life sentence.
The violent spree unfolded on August 1, 2021, beginning with the fatal stabbing of Morgan’s 78-year-old grandmother, Diane Gafford. During the attack, Morgan also inflicted severe injuries on his mother, necessitating her hospitalization.
After the domestic assault, Morgan fled to the nearby Highland Marketplace shopping center in East Baton Rouge. There, he stole a vehicle and proceeded to shoot three strangers outside an Ochsner Urgent Care facility. The immediate presence of medical professionals allowed for quick first aid until emergency responders arrived.
Law enforcement officers soon spotted Morgan and pursued him, leading to a brief car chase. Upon stopping, Morgan attempted to flee on foot, engaging in gunfire with deputies before being shot twice in the exchange.
The event was described as a grievous incident by then-Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, who commended the swift response of first responders and the help of civilians who aided victims at the scene. She expressed sorrow for the lives affected and noted the community’s ongoing resilience.
Assistant District Attorney Vincent Nguyen shed light on the complexity of reaching a resolution in the case, emphasizing the need to consider each victim’s perspective across various locations to ensure comprehensive justice.
For the families and victims impacted, the conclusion of the legal proceedings brought mixed emotions. One relative of the injured victims expressed their feelings as “bittersweet,” acknowledging both the resolution of the case and the enduring aftermath of the tragedy.
