A suspect in last year’s murder of Efraim Gordon, an Israeli citizen shot and killed in Northwest Baltimore, pleaded guilty on Monday, May 2.
Omarion Anderson, 18, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He is expected to be sentenced later this year.
A resident of the West Bank settlement of Na’ale, Gordon, 31, was shot and killed on May 3, 2021, on the doorstep of the home of his aunt and uncle in the 3700 block of Fords Lane. Gordon was visiting Baltimore for his cousin’s wedding during the holiday of Lag B’Omer. He died at a local hospital.
Anderson, who was 17 at the time, Upper Park Heights resident William Clinton III, 18, and an unidentified 16-year-old were charged last June in connection with the homicide.
A fourth suspect reportedly remains at large.
Baltimore Police Department detectives identified the suspects through video surveillance footage and physical evidence.
Gordon reportedly belonged to the Chabad Lubavitch movement and was a technology entrepreneur. He was buried in Israel.
“Today, Omarion Anderson pled guilty to first degree murder for his role in the horrifying fatal shooting of Mr. Efraim Gordon,” Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby said in a statement. “The fact that Mr. Gordon traveled in town from Israel for a joyous family wedding only to have his life violently cut short is soul-crushing and intolerable. What should have been a celebratory milestone left his family reeling in unspeakable grief.
“I commend [Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffrey] Maylor and BPD detectives for their decisive and swift investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for this tragic loss of life. I hope today’s justice for Mr. Gordon brings his family one step closer towards healing.”
Gordon is survived by his parents, Boruch and Olga Gordon, his sister, Ella Gordon, and his brother, David Rader.
“He was one of the most positive people to ever exist, always ready to give a helping hand to everyone, even to strangers,” Gordon’s family wrote on the website thechesedfund.com. “He had a heart of gold. … He had his whole life in front of him and it was stolen from him and his family.”
So far, nearly $62,000 has reportedly been raised for Gordon’s family on the site (thechesedfund.com/efraimchai/efraimlegacy). Gordon’s relatives in Baltimore have announced that a Torah scroll will be dedicated in his honor at a later date to be announced.
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