A Bronx man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for illegally possessing ammunition in connection with a shooting that seriously injured a five-year-old girl. Austin Morrishow received the maximum sentence allowed by law after pleading guilty before U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska. The incident occurred on June 30, 2023, when Morrishow fired multiple shots at fleeing vehicles during a vigil in the Bronx.
“On June 30, 2023, Austin Morrishow and his co-defendant, Curtis White, fired several shots while attending a sidewalk vigil for someone who, in a sad twist of irony, was killed in a shooting,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Morrishow’s brazen acts left a bullet in a five-year-old child’s chest. Instead of accepting responsibility, Morrishow remained a fugitive for eight months. Today’s sentence sends an important message: if you threaten the lives of innocent New Yorkers through senseless gun violence, we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Morrishow and others were attending a vigil for an individual killed by gunfire the previous day. When one of three nearby cars backfired, people scattered for cover. Morrishow then used a .40 caliber pistol to fire at the cars from behind another vehicle. His co-defendant Curtis White also fired his .380 caliber pistol as he chased after the fleeing vehicles.
The shots resulted in at least seven .40 caliber shell casings and two .380 caliber shell casings being found at the scene along with bullet fragments and damage to parked cars. One bullet struck a five-year-old girl sitting in one of the vehicles.
Both men fled after the shooting; White was apprehended shortly afterward while Morrishow evaded authorities until February 2024. At the time of this offense, Morrishow was prohibited from possessing ammunition due to prior felony convictions—including federal charges related to firearms—and was serving supervised release.
In addition to his prison term, Morrishow was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to the victim. White previously received 51 months in prison plus three years’ supervised release and must also pay restitution.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton acknowledged investigative efforts by the New York City Police Department as well as assistance from federal agencies involved in locating both defendants.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry J. Fang from the Office’s General Crimes Unit.
