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Oct 11, 2023

Man who hit beloved meat cutter pleads guilty to hit

The Orleans Parish Criminal District Courthouse on Tulane Avenue at Broad

The Orleans Parish Criminal District Courthouse on Tulane Avenue at Broad Street.

A motorist who struck and killed a 59-year-old New Orleans bicyclist in Mid-City and fled the scene six years ago pleaded guilty Monday to hit-and-run driving and obstruction of justice.

Anthony Diggs, 32, will be sentenced on May 8 in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. He faces as many as 15 years in prison.

Diggs hit Bruce Morgan with his Dodge Charger on May 22, 2016, as the bicyclist pedaled near the intersection of Metairie Road and City Park Avenue. Police arrested Diggs three months later.

Diggs had been charged with manslaughter, but pleaded guilty to the lesser hit-and-run driving charge.

Morgan worked at Dorignac's Food Center as a meat cutter. At the time of his death, his coworkers described him as a beloved "colorful character" and "old-school meat cutter."

His manager, Aldo Bonilla, told the Times-Picayune: "He didn't deserve to be left in the middle of the road to die that way."

Police said they were led to Diggs after he reported damage to his vehicle the day after Morgan was hit. At the time, Diggs told police an object that fell from an 18-wheeler hit his car.

Diggs’ decision to plead guilty was "his acknowledgement of his responsibility and it was accompanied by a tearful apology to the family," said John Fuller, Diggs’ defense attorney.

"He is deeply remorseful of the damage done to the victim's family, as he lost his own father to unspeakable tragedy," Fuller continued. "He and I will continue to pray for the victim's family."

Email Jillian Kramer at [email protected].

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