D.A. Bragg Announces Guilty Plea In Fatal Stabbing On Pier 84

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the guilty plea of LUIS GIL, 21, for fatally stabbing 33-year-old Hugo Morales in an unprovoked attack on Pier 84 in July 2023. GIL pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to one count of Murder in the Second Degree. Under the terms of his plea, he is expected to be sentenced on January 14, 2026, to a promised sentence of 18 years-to-life in state prison.

"Today, Luis Gil is facing accountability for fatally stabbing 33-year-old Hugo Morales in an unprovoked attack on Pier 84. The defendant's egregious actions abruptly cut Mr. Morales's life short," said District Attorney Bragg. "Mr. Morales immigrated to America with the hopes of earning enough money to eventually build his mother a house in Guatemala. My thoughts are with Mr. Morales's loved ones as they continue to mourn his tragic loss."

According to court documents, statements made on the record in court, and as admitted in the defendant's guilty plea, on July 13, 2023, at approximately 6:00 a.m., GIL was sitting on a patch of grass on Pier 84 in Hudson River Park with his friends when Hugo Morales went to lie down on a bench nearby.

GIL approached Mr. Morales and tried to bother him by standing over him, looking at him, putting his bookbag near Mr. Morales's feet, and walking on the bench. Mr. Morales did not engage with him.

GIL took a large knife out of his backpack and hid it in the pocket of his shorts. A few moments later, GIL walked away, then returned to stab Mr. Morales once in the chest.

GIL immediately fled the scene and entered the subway station at West 42nd Street and 8th Avenue. GIL further fled on an Amtrak train to Chicago. GIL was apprehended on July 17th, 2023, after he arrived at the Chicago train station.

Mr. Morales was taken to Morningside Hospital, where he later died from his stab wound.

Assistant D.A. Sarah Khan (Trial Bureau 40) is handling the prosecution of this case with Assistant D.A. Christina Awad (Trial Bureau 40) under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Robert Ferrari (former Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 40) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Former Investigative Analyst McCall Moran provided valuable assistance in the case.

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Jay Poggi of the Midtown North Precinct Detective Squad, Detective Scott Williams of the Detective Borough Manhattan South Homicide Squad and Officers Timothy Riordan and Cheng Pak of the 10th Precinct.

D.A. Bragg also thanked the Amtrak and Chicago Police Departments for their invaluable assistance in this investigation.

Defendant Information:

LUIS GIL

Bronx, NY

Convicted:

• Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, one count

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