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A Nassau County grand jury handed down an indictment charging more teens with gang assault for the fight that left Morris, a new student at Oceanside High School, with a fatal stab wound.
As many as seven teenagers may have been charged in the new indictment. Police had previously released the names of five suspects: Haakim Mechan, 19; Marquis Stephens Jr., 18; Javonte Neals, 18; Taj Woodruff, 17; and Sean Merritt, 17. Two other teens were reportedly arrested and also face gang assault charges.
The five named suspects have pleaded not guilty and are free on bond.
The new indictment comes after Lido Beach resident Tyler Flach, 18, who is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Morris outside the Oceanside strip mall that acted as a popular place for local students to congregate.
Flach has pleaded not guilty and remains remanded to an area jail without bail.
The massive after-school brawl broke out at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16 at the popular strip mall on Brower Avenue, police said. During the fight, Morris was fatally stabbed in the chest, and a 17-year-old was hospitalized with a broken arm and swelling to his head.
Morris died shortly before midnight on the night of his stabbing.
Police investigators believe that the fight was over a girl who may have been dating Morris. The girl was reportedly not Flach’s ex-girlfriend, but someone else involved in the brawl.
In total, there were between 50 and 70 witnesses watching the attack at the scene, police said, though few offered an assist, with several instead shooting video and posting on social media.
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