A judge found Jefferson Parish School Board member Derrick Shepherd not guilty of battery on Tuesday, closing out a case that stemmed from a February confrontation at a New Orleans ATM. Shepherd had been accused of battery against a woman who said he approached her while she was withdrawing cash, a claim that led to a municipal summons months before Tuesday's verdict.
According to WDSU, the woman told New Orleans police that Shepherd approached her while she was using an ATM in the 500 block of O'Bannon Street. She reported the incident to police on February 10 at around 11:42 a.m., per the outlet's account of the police report. The woman said she and Shepherd got into a verbal fight, that bystanders intervened, and that she forcefully pushed him away.
What Police Said the Footage Showed
Investigators reviewed security camera footage from the area, and per New Orleans police, that footage showed physical contact was initiated by Shepherd and was consistent with the woman's account of the encounter. That review is what led to Shepherd receiving a municipal summons for battery, the station's report indicates. Shepherd, for his part, told police he was only trying to shake the woman's hand.
The case ultimately went before a New Orleans judge, who found Shepherd not guilty of battery on Tuesday.
Shepherd's Role on the School Board
Shepherd currently serves as the District 5 representative on the Jefferson Parish School Board, according to Jefferson Parish Schools. He previously held a leadership role on the board, having been selected as its vice president at the board's first meeting on January 4, 2023, alongside Ralph “Rem” Brandt Jr., who was chosen as president, according to NOLA.com.
