New Orleans police are asking for help finding Patrick Cowart, who investigators say pulled a gun on someone during a heated argument Monday evening in New Orleans East. The confrontation happened around 5:35 p.m. in the 7000 block of Bunker Hill Road, and a warrant for Cowart's arrest is now on file. Seventh District detectives are leading the case and are urging anyone with information to speak up.
Police bulletin and tips
According to NOPD News, the department identified the suspect as Patrick Cowart and said he threatened the victim with a firearm during the argument. The bulletin lists the time of the incident and notes that a warrant has been issued.
The same release lists a date of birth of Sept. 11, 2023 for Cowart, an apparent data-entry mistake serious enough that the post offers an email address for questions or corrections. The bulletin directs anyone with information to contact Seventh District detectives at 504-658-6070 and points anonymous tipsters to Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans. It also includes the department's standard reminder that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Where it happened
As detailed in a Fourth Circuit court opinion, an aggravated assault was reported at 7252 Bunker Hill Road on March 4, 2022, and the published opinion recounts how police responded to both assault and homicide calls within the same stretch of road. That record shows that a relatively short run of Bunker Hill Road has surfaced more than once in official reports and court filings.
What the law says
Under Louisiana law, "aggravated assault with a firearm" is defined as an assault committed with a firearm and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine under RS 14:37.4. Prosecutors do not have to show that the gun was actually fired in order to bring the charge. State law treats aggravated assault with a firearm as a crime of violence, which can influence how charges are filed and how any eventual sentence is calculated.
How to report
If you have information, contact NOPD Seventh District detectives at 504-658-6070. You can also call Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP, or submit a tip online through Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans. For the department's original bulletin and full contact details, see NOPD News.
Police advise that if you see the person, call 911 and do not attempt to approach. Detectives stress that tips should go to law enforcement rather than residents trying to step in themselves.
