A Howard jury found state prison inmate Brandon Morris guilty of murdering a correctional officer during his escape from a Hagerstown hospita ? the verdict qualifies him for the death penalty.
Morris, 22, of Baltimore City, was charged with shooting Correctional Officer Jeffery Wroten, 44, while escaping from Washington County Hospital in January 2006.
The jury found Morris guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder during the course of a robbery, and first-degree murder during the course of an escape. The maximum penalty for each count is execution.
Morris also was found guilty on 30 lesser charges involving the assault of awoman he took hostage and the armed carjacking of a cab driver.
Morris will have to decide Tuesday whether he wants to be sentenced by the judge or the jury.
