Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has announced that Austin Morrishow pled guilty to illegally possessing ammunition. This plea is in connection with a shooting incident on June 30, 2023, where Morrishow and Curtis White fired multiple shots on a Bronx street, injuring a five-year-old girl. U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska accepted Morrishow's plea; she also presided over White’s guilty plea earlier this year.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky stated: “On June 30, 2023, Austin Morrishow and his co-defendant, Curtis White, engaged in a brazen act of violence by firing several shots onto a busy residential street in the Bronx. As these shots rang out, panicked bystanders rushed for cover, and one child—a five-year-old girl—was struck by a bullet and seriously injured. Morrishow then tried to evade arrest but he was tracked down by our law enforcement partners and now faces time in prison for endangering our city with senseless gun violence.”
Court documents reveal that Morrishow and White were among those gathered on a Bronx sidewalk when they began firing at cars after mistaking a car engine backfire for gunfire. Morrishow used a .40 caliber pistol while White chased the vehicles with a .380 caliber pistol.
The incident resulted in seven .40 caliber shell casings and two .380 caliber shell casings being found at the scene along with damage to nearby vehicles. One bullet struck the young girl who was sitting in the back of a car.
Both men have prior convictions prohibiting them from possessing firearms or ammunition: Morrishow for using firearms during a narcotics conspiracy and White for attempted first-degree assault.
Morrishow and White each pled guilty to possession of ammunition after felony conviction charges which could result in up to 15 years imprisonment. Sentencing dates are set for May 20 and June 25 respectively.
Podolsky commended the investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department as well as support from federal agencies like ATF and U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry J. Fang from the General Crimes Unit is handling prosecution duties.
