Four people out for the night near the French Quarter were robbed at gunpoint Saturday in the Treme/Lafitte neighborhood after they parked and started walking toward the Quarter, according to police. The group had left their vehicle in the 1400 block of Governor Nicholls Street when two armed men confronted them, demanded the keys, and took off toward Claiborne Avenue. Investigators say the suspects later circled back to snatch the group’s black Jeep Wagoneer with Florida license plate 15BTGP.
Police detail the scene and timeline
According to WDSU, the holdup happened around 10:45 p.m. Saturday in the 1200 block of Governor Nicholls Street. The New Orleans Police Department told the station that two armed suspects approached the four people shortly after they parked, demanded the keys, and left when the victims complied. Detectives say the pair later returned to the area, using those keys to take the Jeep Wagoneer. Police described the case as an active investigation and asked anyone with information to come forward.
Police seek the vehicle and witnesses
The missing vehicle, a black Jeep Wagoneer with Florida plate 15BTGP, is now a central piece of the investigation. Detectives are asking anyone who spotted the SUV or the suspects to contact them. Local coverage notes that tips can be left with Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans or by calling the NOPD non-emergency line, as reported by FOX8. Police say the probe remains ongoing as they track leads and review any available video or witness statements.
Where the case fits in recent trends
District-level crime stats show this incident lands in a complicated moment for the area. The 1st District, which covers Treme/Lafitte, recorded a notable drop in armed robberies in 2024 even as carjackings climbed, according to a district analysis by MetroCrime. The report found that armed robberies in the 1st District fell to a six-year low in 2024, while carjacking cases rose year over year. That kind of split helps explain why detectives treat a stolen vehicle here as a potentially key thread to pull.
What residents and visitors should know
Although episodes like this do not happen every night, they are not unheard of in Treme. Earlier this year, a fatal shooting in the neighborhood underscored why many residents stay on alert. The NOPD continues to investigate Saturday’s robbery and still considers the case active, according to WDSU. Anyone who witnessed the robbery or captured it on video is urged to contact Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans or call the department’s non-emergency number.
