Phillip Morton, 29, one of the co-defendants in a 2019 Subway shop shooting was sentenced to life imprisonment on Aug. 11 for the death of a teen-ager and the wounding of two women before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeffery Geller.
Morton and co‑defendants Diamante Teal, 29, and William Andre Stewart III, 26 are accused of participating in the June 17, 2019 Subway shooting, where 16 year old Travis Chance was killed and the others wounded, during a July 11, 2019 robbery on the unit block of 25th Street, near Morgan State University.
Prosecutors highlighted Morton’s history of violence, noting he was on probation for an armed carjacking at the time of the murder. The Buick used during the incident was the same vehicle involved in that earlier carjacking.
Prosecutors argued Morton’s violent behavior dated back to his childhood and said the state believed Morton should face punishment rather than rehabilitation.
The prosecutor requested life imprisonment for first‑degree murder and concurrent 30 year terms for conspiracy and firearm offenses, five years of probation, and no contact with victims or their families.
Defense attorney Avrohom Greenfield countered that Chance in a prior incident should have been charged with Morton’s attempted murder but police did not pursue the case.
He argued Morton acted in self‑defense and had “no other options.” Greenfield said the state was unfairly portraying Morton as violent based on an old case and emphasized Morton’s troubled childhood. The defense asked for life, suspending all but 40 years for first‑degree murder.
Morton addressed the court, saying the prosecutor portrayed him as a bad person when he was not. He said he helps the homeless and noted Baltimore’s high homicide rate, saying, “This is how Baltimore City is.” Judge Geller responded that Morton killed one person and seriously wounded others.
The judge imposed life in prison for first‑degree murder, along with 20 years consecutive for conspiracy to commit first‑degree murder as well as 20 years consecutive for first‑degree assault; another 20 years consecutive for a second count of first‑degree assault; and five years of probation for firearm use in a felony‑violent crime. In total, Morton received life imprisonment plus 60 years
After the proceedings, Greenfield spoke to Morton’s family members about possibly appealing his sentence.
There are no further hearings scheduled.
