Beloved Chef Murdered by Carjacker While Picking up Son from Daycare

A beloved New Orleans chef and devoted father was tragically gunned down while waiting to pick up his young son from daycare — killed in cold blood by a violent carjacker in broad daylight.

Police said 38-year-old Carl Morgan, a sous chef at the iconic Brennan’s restaurant, was sitting in his car outside the Abeona House Child Discovery Center when 21-year-old Raymond Wells allegedly opened fire without warning.

“I just saw a guy walking right there — he just started unloading his gun,” eyewitness Luke Gower told local reporters. “I don’t think he even knew the person. He just aimed at the car and started shooting at it. There I was — the next car in line — so I just feel lucky, I guess.”

When officers arrived, Morgan was found dead in the parking lot — just steps away from where his 2-year-old son was waiting inside. “It was a truly horrible scene and a horrible crime,” said New Orleans Police Deputy Superintendent Nicholas Gernon.

Investigators said Wells had been on a violent spree, carjacking vehicles and shooting at random people before targeting Morgan. The suspect was later discovered with a gunshot wound to the head inside Morgan’s stolen car. Police said it remains unclear who shot him, but if he survives, he will be charged with first-degree murder.

Teachers at the daycare rushed to lock down the building as soon as they heard the gunfire. “One of the teachers heard the shots and said, ‘Let’s get inside,’” said Pastor Shawn Anglim of a nearby church. “They immediately moved all the children to safety.”

Morgan’s coworkers at Brennan’s have been devastated by the loss. “He was such a good human,” said general manager Christian Pendleton. “He was a dad waiting to pick up his son at daycare. None of this is ever okay.”

Morgan leaves behind his partner, Lisa Marie Lienberger, and their young son. “We love him very much,” Lienberger said tearfully. “I’ll do my best to make sure he’s remembered in everything we do. I wish he was here.”

Morgan was scheduled to lead Brennan’s booth at the city’s Fried Chicken Fest this weekend. “When he made his fried chicken sandwich, people looked forward to it,” Pendleton said. “We’ll do that for him.”