Gunfire in New Orleans' Seventh Ward left one person dead on Dec. 16, 2023, turning a neighborhood intersection into a crime scene, according to police. Officers responding to reports of shots fired found the victim at the intersection, and emergency crews pronounced the person dead at the scene. Detectives are still working the case, and police have asked anyone with information to come forward. No arrests had been announced as of the latest update from authorities.
What police say
According to WWL-TV, officers found a person suffering from gunshot wounds, and emergency medical personnel pronounced the victim dead at the scene. WDSU reported that police cordoned off the intersection as investigators processed the area and that the case remains an active investigation.
Earlier shootings in the neighborhood
This latest killing lands in the middle of a troubling run of gun violence in the Seventh Ward. In late November, a separate burst of gunfire left one man dead and several others wounded near the intersections of Henriette Delille & St. Anthony streets and North Claiborne & Elysian Fields. Police later arrested 20-year-old Rahkeem Kenner in connection with that case, FOX 8 reported.
Neighbors and trends
Longtime business owners near the most recent scene say the constant tension is wearing on them, their staff and their regulars. "I'ma have to change the name to the 'Shootout Barbershop,'" owner Willie Adams told reporters, WDSU reported, capturing the mix of gallows humor and frustration bubbling up in the neighborhood.
Data from the Metropolitan Crime Commission show that while violent crime has eased citywide in recent years, homicides and shootings remain heavily concentrated in a small number of districts, including the Seventh Ward.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about the Dec. 16 shooting is asked to contact the NOPD Homicide Section at 504-658-5300 or Crime Stoppers at 504-822-1111, FOX 8 reported. Reporters have requested additional comment from the department and will update this story as investigators release more details.
