Introduction to the Case
It was the height of the dinner rush at L.A. Live, a glittering, neon-drenched complex of restaurants and bars steps from Crypto.com Arena. Around 6 p.m. on Nov. 28, 2023, a white Ford Escape pulled out of rush hour traffic on Figueroa Street, stopping along the curb outside Fixins Soul Kitchen. A man stepped out of the Ford, wearing a dark jogging suit with white trim, white sneakers and a baseball cap with the words “No F—Given” on the front. A black balaclava covered his face as he entered the restaurant.
The Murder at L.A. Live
L.A. Live’s security cameras captured what happened next: In front of about 20 diners and employees, he walked up behind a man eating alone at the bar, aimed a pistol with two hands and shot him in the back of the head. At a court hearing Wednesday, Los Angeles Police Department detectives revealed how they identified the alleged shooter and a second man accused of coordinating what police called a “very well-orchestrated execution.”
Investigation and Arrests
Detectives testified that surveillance footage, license plate readers and an analysis of cellphone and car location data helped solve the case — but only partially. It remains a mystery why the two defendants, alleged gang members with prior convictions for violent crimes, would target Sidney Barrett Morris, who until shortly before his death held a high-level post at California State University, Northridge. In search of a motive, detectives got a search warrant for the victim’s CSUN email account, court records show. Morris’ colleagues told detectives he’d been investigating players on the school’s men’s basketball team who’d been accused of sexual misconduct and harassment. His co-workers theorized the investigation had something to do with his homicide.
The Alleged Killers
Santana Jermaine Kelly, shown in a 2018 photograph, is charged with orchestrating the murder of Sidney Barrett Morris. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) First arrested at 16 for carjacking a woman, Kelly went in and out of the California Youth Authority and state prison until 2000, when he was charged with following Asian patrons of the Hollywood Park Casino to their homes and robbing them, the report said. After serving 19 years of a potential life sentence for fleeing police, Kelly was released, court records show. Phillip Clark, shown here in 2015, is charged with shooting Sidney Barrett Morris as he ate dinner at Fixins Soul Kitchen on Nov. 28, 2023. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) At L.A. Live, the killer was careful to cover his face. But in South L.A., he pulled down his balaclava, Byers testified. Detectives identified him as Phillip Pasco Clark, then 33, a convicted robber and burglar.
The Search for Motive
A review of public records related to Morris, 43, revealed no obvious signs of a life in distress. No rancorous divorces or business disputes, restraining orders or recent financial trouble — nothing connecting him to the two men accused of his murder. “I’ve been screaming to the D.A. myself: ‘What is the motive?’” Theida Salazar, a lawyer representing one of the suspects, said in an interview. “My client’s got no ties to this guy.” Morris went through financial problems in the past. He declared bankruptcy in 2013, stating in a petition that his $76,000-a-year salary as human resources administrator at the University of San Diego couldn’t cover the $224,000 he owed in student debt, unpaid taxes and personal loans. But Morris’ fortunes had seemingly improved by 2019, when he was hired as CSUN’s director of equity and compliance with a $150,000 salary, according to school records reviewed by The Times.
Conclusion
The case of Sidney Barrett Morris’ murder remains a mystery, with the motive behind the killing still unknown. Despite the arrests of Santana Jermaine Kelly and Phillip Pasco Clark, the reason for the "well-orchestrated execution" at L.A. Live continues to elude investigators. As the preliminary hearing for Clark and Kelly is set to continue, the search for answers and justice for Morris and his family persists.
FAQs
Q: Who was the victim of the murder at L.A. Live?
A: The victim was Sidney Barrett Morris, a 43-year-old man who held a high-level post at California State University, Northridge.
Q: Who are the alleged killers?
A: The alleged killers are Santana Jermaine Kelly and Phillip Pasco Clark, both of whom have prior convictions for violent crimes.
Q: What was the motive behind the murder?
A: The motive behind the murder is still unknown, despite investigations and searches of the victim’s email account and other records.
Q: What is the current status of the case?
A: The preliminary hearing for Clark and Kelly is set to continue on May 22.
Q: Are there any other suspects in the case?
A: The getaway driver, whose face was covered by a straw hat, remains unidentified.
