The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has taken a 15-year-old juvenile into custody in connection with a recent homicide, according to a statement by the NOPD. The arrest took place last Wednesday, as a result of a coordinated effort between NOPD's Violent Offender Warrant Squad and the U.S. Marshals.
The investigation began following a December 4 incident on the 11900 block of Hayne Boulevard. NOPD Seventh District officers were dispatched to the 7900 block of Bullard Avenue around 2:09 p.m. in response to a medical emergency. There, an adult male was discovered unresponsive, inside a residence, pronounced deceased at the scene by Emergency Medical Services. The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office later identified the victim as 18-year-old Jairus Gayden and revealed preliminary cause of death to be from gunshot-related injuries.
Detectives from the NOPD Homicide Section actively worked the case and were able to identify the juvenile as a suspect. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for the teenager on one count of second-degree murder. The suspect was located and apprehended at a residence within the Seventh District, and has been placed at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center.
NOPD News reported that, all individuals involved in this case are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The public is encouraged to offer any information that could assist with the ongoing investigation by contacting the NOPD Homicide Section detectives at 504-658-5300.
