Family gets "measure of justice" from sentencing in murder of Israeli tourist Efraim Gordon

BALTIMORE -- The family of Israeli tourist Efraim Gordon, who was murdered in Baltimore in 2021, said a "measure of justice" was served after one of his convicted killers was sentenced on Thursday.

A judge handed Rasheed Morris a sentence of life in prison with all but 40 years suspended.

Gordon, 31, was visiting Baltimore for the first time in May 2021 to attend his cousin's wedding when he was shot on the front steps of his family's home during a robbery that had gone wrong, according to police.

"I do believe there was a measure of justice served today," said Sara Marshall, Gordon's cousin.

Morris did not comment when the judge asked if he had anything to say to the victim's family. 

His lawyer called him "a person of very few words" and later expressed to the judge that Morris hoped the sentence would "bring closure" to the victim's family and "help them to move on."

Morris pleaded guilty in court to first-degree murder two years ago. He was the first of the four suspects in the crime to be sentenced. Morris was 16 years old at the time of the murder, and because of his age at the time, he can ask for a review of his sentence in 20 years.

Two other suspects, William Clinton III and Omarian Anderson, took plea deals and are scheduled to return to court later this month.

The fourth suspect, William Hollowman, was found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted robbery. He is expected to be sentenced in December.

"No one should get away easily with murder," said Dovid Rayder, Gordon's cousin.

"We will continue to be his voice"

Sara Marshall said she will never forget May 3, 2021, the day Gordon was killed outside of her parents' home.

The family has since moved out of Baltimore.

"He was probably not a person who believed that someone would kill him for not giving up his keys," Marshall said. "I want people to remember him as a light. We will continue to be his voice."

Dovid Rayder, another cousin, lent Gordon the vehicle he was driving and recalls sending him a text to make sure he arrived safely. 

"Seconds later, he was dead," Rayder said. 

Rayder said what followed was "unimaginable pain, unimaginable shock—just to see there is such disregard for human life over a car."

Gordon's aunt Miriam Rayder told the judge she found "horror on her doorstep" as Gordon was heading to her home when he was killed. 

"The murder in the heart of the Jewish community sent shockwaves," Miriam Rayder said.