A New Orleans man has pleaded guilty to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a case that has drawn attention to the city's ongoing struggle with gun violence. Brian Ward, 30, entered the plea on October 10, 2024, following an incident that took place earlier this year on the storied Bourbon Street, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Ward, with a prior felony record, was involved in a physical confrontation on January 7, 2024, where he produced and discharged a Taurus Model PT140 G2, .40 caliber pistol. The situation escalated to gunfire, although details about the altercation's instigator have not been publicized by the authorities. Following Ward's arrest by the New Orleans Police Department, law enforcement discovered the firearm concealed near a vehicle's tire and retrieved a spent shell casing matching the gun, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The incident was evidently caught on RealTime Crime Cameras, providing essential evidence for the prosecutors. Ward's guilty plea brings a potential sentence of 15 years behind bars, a fine up to $250,000, and at least a three-year period of supervised release. He is scheduled for sentencing on January 2, 2025, in front of U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe.
This case is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at curbing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department of Justice revamped the strategy in 2021 to emphasize community trust, support violence prevention by community organizations, ensure precise enforcement priorities, and review the outcomes of these measures. U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans commended the joint efforts by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the NOPD, signifying a shared commitment to public safety. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit.
