New Orleans police are asking the public to help track down a teenage suspect after an attempted first-degree rape was reported Saturday in the 6100 block of Magazine Street. Detectives say the victim managed to escape, and the NOPD Sex Crimes Unit is now leading the investigation.
The suspect is described as a Black male, roughly 16 to 19 years old, about 5-foot-8 with a thin build and dreadlocks. Witnesses told investigators he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood up and a black mask covering his mouth.
In a Facebook post, the New Orleans Police Department released that description and asked anyone who might have seen something to come forward. The post did not name a suspect or announce any arrests. Detectives say they are leaning on community tips and any available surveillance footage from the area to help identify the person described.
How to report tips
Anyone with video, photos or other information is urged to call NOPD’s non-emergency dispatch at 504-821-2222 or contact Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans at 504-822-1111 or 1-877-903-STOP, or submit an anonymous tip online. The Orleans Parish Communication District lists 504-821-2222 as the city’s non-emergency line.
Detectives say they are particularly interested in surveillance footage from businesses and home cameras in the 6100 block of Magazine Street around the time of the reported attack.
Unit resources and history
The NOPD Sex Crimes Unit has been operating under significant strain in recent years. A federal monitor warned in 2023 that the unit was dangerously understaffed, and the department has previously acknowledged errors in sex-crime reporting during earlier reviews. Those issues have pushed community advocates and city officials to call for more staffing, stronger oversight and better follow-up with survivors.
The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit has stressed how crucial coordination is between detectives and prosecutors in sensitive cases like this one, particularly when it comes to getting cases to indictment where appropriate.
Legal note
Under Louisiana law, first-degree rape covers intercourse without lawful consent when certain aggravating factors are present. Attempted first-degree rape is treated as a serious felony that carries severe penalties. The statute lists factors such as the use of force, threats, weapons or the involvement of multiple offenders, and state procedural rules provide extended time limits for prosecuting many sex offenses.
For the specific statute, see Louisiana Revised Statute 14:42 as published on Justia. For rules on prosecutorial timelines, see the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure on Justia.
Detectives say the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the numbers above or send tips through Crimestoppers. NOPD has not announced any arrests and says further details will be released as they become available.
