NEW ORLEANS — Carl Morgan is being fondly remembered by friends and colleagues as a gentle giant, a proud father, and a culinary creative — just days after his tragic death in a daylight carjacking outside a daycare on Canal Street.

Morgan, who worked as a sous chef at Brennan’s, was fatally shot Tuesday evening while he waited to collect his young son. Authorities report that 24-year-old Raymond Wells attempted to steal his car, eventually fleeing in it before being found with a gunshot wound to the head. Wells remains under watch at University Hospital and could face first-degree murder charges if he recovers.

The team at Brennan’s, where Morgan had been a long-time employee, is in mourning. General Manager Christian Pendleton stated that the news quickly impacted their restaurant community.

“All of us — similar to much of New Orleans — were in shock, devastated, and outraged,” Pendleton expressed. “He was merely a dad waiting to pick up his child from daycare. This kind of incident is never acceptable.”

Pendleton described Morgan as a “teddy bear of a man” — big, gregarious, and kind.

“He had a passion for cooking and making people happy,” Pendleton shared. “However, more than anything, he was a proud father excited about parenthood. This past summer, he took his son, Silas, to Disney World. They created lightsabers at Star Wars, which brought him immense joy.”

Morgan’s interests spanned beyond his kitchen and family life, including football, food, and community involvement. An avid Raiders fan, he was deeply committed to preparing for the upcoming Fried Chicken Festival, which, according to Pendleton, had become his cherished “baby” project.

“When the news first broke, we thought we couldn’t do the festival without him,” Pendleton said. “But it wasn’t 30 seconds before we knew — we have to do it. He was so proud of it. So we’ll be there this weekend, and the proceeds are going to his family.”

Pendleton said the Brennan’s team has always felt more like family than co-workers.

“We’re with each other sometimes more than we’re with our families,” he said. “So when this happens, it’s devastating. But this city, and this industry, is rallying around his family and ours. We’ll figure out how to walk forward, one day at a time, together.”

The Abeona House daycare, where Morgan was shot, also issued a statement:

“We are heartbroken to confirm that the victim of this week’s tragic shooting was a parent in our Abeona community,” said Executive Director Deborah Pavur. “Our focus now is caring for our teachers, families, and most of all the loved ones of the parent we lost. Our hearts are with them, and with our entire community as we grieve this unimaginable loss together.”

As flowers pile up outside the daycare where Morgan was killed, his co-workers hope the community remembers him for the love he poured into his family, his food, and his city.