Santa Monica Home-Invasion Robberies: Man Pleads Not Guilty

SANTA MONICA, CA — A man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and other charges stemming from two recent home-invasion robberies in Santa Monica in which three people were injured.

Brian Noah Morgan, 24, faces two counts of attempted murder, three counts of first-degree residential robbery and one count each of attempted residential robbery, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon involving a hammer and first-degree burglary with a person present.

The criminal complaint includes allegations that Morgan personally used a knife, inflicted great bodily injury and has a 2012 assault with a firearm conviction.

A 17-year-old boy has also been charged with numerous felony counts, including attempted murder, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest, Santa Monica police said last week. Further details about his case were unavailable.

Officers responded to the first crime scene about 3 p.m. May 15 and determined that the resident had been assaulted, police said. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries, according to police.

Just after 6 p.m. on May 26, officers responded to the second home- invasion robbery, in which one victim suffered multiple stab wounds and another suffered injuries from being struck with a blunt object, according to police.

The teenager barricaded himself in the rear yard of a nearby residence in the 200 block of 20th Street and was arrested with the assistance of police K-9 and SWAT officers, police said.

The second suspect fled the scene, but officers were able to gather information about the vehicle, including the license plate number, and alert surrounding law enforcement agencies.

Morgan was taken into custody about 10:30 p.m. May 26 after a vehicle stop by El Monte police in the 11200 block of Garvey Avenue.

— City News Service, photo courtesy of the SMPD