Paraplegic Lynn man pleads innocent to weapons charges

SALEM – A paraplegic Lynn man already under indictment for shooting at two men while inside an SUV last July 4 pleaded innocent to additional firearm and counterfeit charges Wednesday afternoon in Salem Superior Court.Wendell A. Morris, 22, of 56 Hillside Ave., Lynn, pleaded innocent to carrying a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of ammunition and possession of counterfeit bills before Judge Timothy Q. Feeley.As jointly recommended by the prosecutor and defense, Feeley kept in place the $20,000 bail as previously set earlier in Lynn District Court with the option that the defense may seek a bail review at another court date.The case was continued to June 17. In the meantime, Morris remains held at the Hampden House of Corrections in Ludlow.The newest set of charges arise out of his arrest in Lynn on the evening of April 18 when police say they pulled over a Volkswagen Jetta for a failed inspection sticker on Lewis Street.Police said they discovered a .25 Luger revolver on Morris, a passenger in the vehicle, who was pat frisked and also found with an alleged $6,000 in counterfeit bills on his person.Morris was already under indictment for allegedly firing six shots at two individuals from a black Lexus SUV on Timson Street in Lynn in the early morning hours of July 4, allegations he has denied.Witnesses were able to provide authorities with a description of the car and a license plate number, which was apparently tracked down to a female, an ex-girlfriend of Morris, who was reportedly the driver of the car that night.Authorities said they recovered from the car a loaded 9mm revolver from a backpack belonging to Morris the following day.At the time of his arrest, Morris referred to the female as a “snitch” and questioned police when they frisked him saying, “Why are you frisking me, you already got my gun.”Assistant District Attorney Christina P. Ronan is the prosecutor in both cases.