Hudson River Pier 84 Stabber Sentenced for ‘23 Murder of Migrant

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. recently announced the sentencing of Luis Gil, 21, of the Bronx, to 18 years-to-life in state prison 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.

“Hugo Morales was lying on a park bench one summer morning on Pier 84 when Luis Gil fatally stabbed him without provocation, tragically cutting his life short,” said District Attorney Bragg. “While nothing can bring Mr. Morales back, I hope this guilty plea and lengthy prison sentence can serve as a measure of comfort and closure to his loved ones who continue to mourn his loss.”

Known for its dog run, Pier 84 sits at the foot of West 44th Street, just south of the U.S.S Intrepid.

A contemporary Daily News story described Morales as a hardworking immigrant from Guatemala. Said Oscar, a childhood friend of Morales, “I don’t even know what to say. I’m upset. That’s terrible. How are you gonna come take your anger and frustrations out on somebody else?”

“We were close, but we lived separately and we weren’t together as often as we wanted to. Here everyone is always working.”

“He wanted to come here so he could buy property and build a house for his mother to live in. He wanted a comfortable life for his mother. He wanted to come here, get money together, work, then go back and be with his family.”

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 Morales and tried to bother him by standing over him, looking at him, putting his bookbag near Morales’s feet, and walking on the bench. 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 Morales once in the chest.

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

Department of Correction records describe Gil as Venezuelan, 5 feet 6 inches, 147 pounds

Morales was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, where he later died from his wounds.

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 PD for their assistance in the investigation.