What first looked like another deadly hit-and-run on Saint Claude Avenue is now being treated as a killing that was no accident, according to New Orleans police.
The crash happened April 28 in the 3900 block of Saint Claude Avenue, where officers say a man was struck by a vehicle and later died from his injuries. Investigators now believe the driver intentionally hit the victim, and the case has been reclassified as a homicide. Police have identified the suspect as Rhonda Watts and booked her on a charge of second-degree murder.
Arrest Announced by NOPD
In an update posted to NOPD News, the department said officers arrested Watts on May 3 in the 3400 block of Urquhart Street in connection with the April 28 collision. Detectives from the Homicide Section are leading the case, working to piece together what happened on Saint Claude and why.
The department has asked anyone who might have seen the crash, knows the people involved, or has video from the area to reach out to investigators as they continue to build the case.
Police Say the Crash Was Purposeful
As reported by WDSU, police say the evidence led detectives to believe the vehicle did not accidentally strike the man. With that shift in thinking, the incident is no longer being treated as a traffic fatality, and Watts now faces a second-degree murder charge.
Authorities have not publicly detailed what they believe prompted the collision, and the full story of what unfolded on that stretch of Saint Claude will likely come out in court, not in a press release.
Legal Note
Under Louisiana law, second-degree murder is defined in La. R.S. 14:30.1 and covers killings committed with specific intent or deaths that occur during certain listed felonies. According to Justia, the offense is punishable by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. How that plays out in this case will depend on prosecutors, the evidence presented, and the court process.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact NOPD Homicide Section detectives at 504-658-5300, per WDSU. Local prosecutors are expected to review the case as detectives continue their investigation and the matter moves through the criminal justice system.
