NEW ORLEANS – Friends, family, and co-workers are mourning the loss of Carl Morgan, a beloved sous chef at Brennan’s, who was tragically killed during a carjacking outside a Canal Street daycare earlier this week.
Morgan, remembered as a gentle giant with a big heart, was waiting to pick up his young son, Silas, when police say 24-year-old Raymond Wells attempted to carjack him. Morgan was fatally shot, and Wells later fled in the stolen car before being found with a gunshot wound to the head. Wells remains under guard at University Hospital and faces a first-degree murder charge if he recovers.
At Brennan’s, where Morgan had worked for years, staff members describe him as more than a co-worker — he was family. “We were all—like most of New Orleans—just shocked, devastated, outraged,” said General Manager Christian Pendleton. “Carl loved cooking, he loved making people happy. But more than anything, he was a proud dad.”
Pendleton recalled Morgan’s joy in fatherhood, sharing stories of his recent Disney World trip with Silas, where they built lightsabers together. Beyond food and family, Morgan was known for his passion for football, his Raiders fandom, and his excitement for the Fried Chicken Festival, which he had made his “baby project.” Brennan’s staff says they will continue with the festival in his honor, with proceeds going to Morgan’s family.
The Abeona House daycare, where the tragedy unfolded, also expressed grief. “Our focus now is caring for our teachers, families, and most of all the loved ones of the parent we lost,” said Executive Director Deborah Pavur.
As flowers pile up outside the daycare, Morgan’s legacy is clear: a devoted father, a creative chef, and a man who poured love into his community.