Efraim Gordon, z'l, H'yd, was killed by four men in the Park Heights neighborhood on May 3, 2021

Baltimore, Md. (December 12, 2024) - This week, the last three defendants were sentenced for their role in the fatal shooting of Efraim Gordon, who was visiting Baltimore for a family wedding in May 2021 when he was killed in an attempted robbery. Defendant Rasheed Morris was given a sentence of Life, suspending all but 40 years, in September of this year after pleading guilty to First Degree Murder. This week, Morris' co-defendants, Omarion Anderson, William Clinton, and William Holloman, were each sentenced to the following terms:

Anderson - Life, suspending all but 25 years of incarceration (pled guilty)
Clinton - Life, suspending all but 30 years of incarceration (pled guilty)
Holloman - Life, suspending all but 50 years of incarceration (jury trial)

Assistant State's Attorney Paul Crowley prosecuted these cases.

“These sentences signify the conclusion of a long and heart-wrenching journey through the criminal justice system for the family and loved ones of Mr. Gordon. The sudden and tragic loss of Mr. Gordon will forever cast a shadow over our city’s history,” said State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “I want to sincerely thank ASA Paul Crowley for his tireless dedication in prosecuting these defendants, BPD Homicide Detective Ceasar Mohamed for his unwavering efforts during this challenging investigation, and I am deeply grateful to my Victim Witness Unit for their compassionate support of the family during what continues to be an incredibly difficult time. Baltimore and its Jewish community still grieve this profound loss, especially Mr. Gordon’s loved ones, who were gathered for what should have been a joyous wedding celebration.”

On May 3, 2021, at 12:15 a.m. Baltimore Police responded to the 3700 block of Fords Lane for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, police located Efraim Gordon lying on the front steps of a residence, suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. Mr. Gordon was transported to Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

“This tragedy shook our community to its core, and this week’s sentences reflect the unwavering commitment to justice for the family of the victim and all those affected by this senseless act of violence,” said Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the residents who came forward, worked with our police department, and trusted the State’s Attorney’s Office to seek justice. This outcome underscores the power of collaboration between our residents and the dedicated professionals in law enforcement and our commitment to building a city where every visitor and resident can feel safe and protected.”

Police recovered CCTV videos from the area, which captured portions of the events. Footage showed Mr. Gordon driving into the parking lot at 3723 Fords Lane and parking a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. At that time, three males entered the parking lot and walked past Mr. Gordon's parked vehicle. He exited the vehicle and walked to the residence when the men approached him. One of the males pointed a handgun and lunged at Mr. Gordon, then fired one shot. Two of the men ran towards Fords Lane. The third male bent down towards Mr. Gordon and then fled the scene.

“I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of Detective Mohammad and the members of our Homicide Unit, whose relentless pursuit of justice ensured that all those involved were held accountable. These sentences represent justice for the victim’s family, our city, and all those affected by the tragic death of Efraim Gordon. Our department remains committed to working alongside our community and prosecutors to remove criminals from our streets and hold individuals accountable," said Police Commissioner Richard Worley.

Additional footage showed two of the suspects running toward Bancroft Street. A third suspect ran to a Burgundy Lexus SUV waiting nearby and entered the vehicle's rear passenger seat. The SUV was listed as stolen on April 28, 2021. The stolen vehicle subsequently made a right onto Park Heights Avenue.

On May 3, 2021, at 7:53 p.m., the stolen Lexus SUV was recovered by MDTA Police. Defendant William Clinton was driving the vehicle at the time. Police recovered Clinton’s cellular phone from the SUV.

Using surveillance footage from the crime scene, police reconstructed the path of flight of the two suspects who fled on foot and used stills from surveillance footage at a Shell Gas Station on Smith Avenue to create a flier to request help identifying the suspects. Omarion Anderson was subsequently arrested. Police later recovered the firearm under a bush near the 3500 block of Bancroft Road that was along the path of travel of Omarion Anderson and Rasheed Morris. The firearm was determined to be operable, and a shell casing was recovered from the barrel.

During the course of the investigation, investigators determined that Anderson met Clinton at a party in Carroll Park on May 2, 2021, when Clinton invited Anderson to come with him to Greenmount Avenue to steal a car. The men, along with Rasheed Morris and William Holloman, took an MTA bus to Greenmount and 25th Street and used the firearm that police officers later recovered to steal the Burgundy Lexus SUV.