On the afternoon of May 1, 2015, 19-year-old Caucasian male Brandon Morris was with four friends near a convenience store at South 45th Street and South Puget Sound Avenue in Tacoma, Washington. They had just purchased candy and were standing in front of an apartment complex when a vehicle drove down an adjacent alley. Multiple shots were fired from the SUV towards Morris and his friends. In a heroic act, Morris began pushing his friends behind a nearby Jeep to shield them from the gunfire.
Tragically, as he was helping his friends find cover, Morris was struck by a bullet to the head. He was the only one in his group to be hit by the gunfire.
Authorities later stated that neither Brandon Morris nor his friends had any known gang affiliations. The shooting was a case of mistaken identity, with prosecutors believing the suspects targeted the group because at least one of Morris's friends was wearing red clothing, leading the assailants to mistake them for members of a rival gang. The area where the shooting occurred was known to be a hangout for a particular gang. Morris, who was on the verge of graduating from Bates Technical College to become a diesel mechanic, was described by his family as a good man who died protecting his friends.
The investigation into the senseless killing led to the arrest of six individuals. Alexander Kitt, 23, was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, four counts of first-degree assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Lance Milton Ausley, 17, was identified as the driver of the vehicle and also faced murder charges. Other suspects charged in connection with the drive-by shooting were 17-year-old Clifford Krentkowski, 16-year-old Jeremy Bolieu, 16-year-old Jermohnn Gore, and a 15-year-old.
In October 2016, three of the individuals received lengthy prison sentences for their roles in Brandon Morris's death. Jermohnn Gore, who was identified as having fired the fatal shot, was sentenced to 82 years in prison. Alexander Kitt received a sentence of 84 years. Clifford Krentkowski was sentenced to 25 years. Along with murder, the trio was also convicted on four counts of first-degree assault. The trial was reportedly marked by threats and intimidation of witnesses.
