New Orleans District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro's office has charged a 19-year-old man with eight crimes, including three carjackings in the Gentilly area, in the past year.
Kentrell Lockett is charged with three counts of carjacking, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, one count of aggravated assault with a firearm, and two counts of possession of stolen property.
The first of the carjackings happened May 14, 2018, in the 6000 block of Painters Street. Then just last month, prosecutors say Lockett carjacked a victim in the 4700 block of Music Street on April 15, then just days later in the 3700 block of Clematis Street on April 21.
Two of the incidents, according to the D.A.'s office, involved Lockett illegally entering vehicles in which victims' children were still inside.
"This individual has become increasingly brazen and dangerous in his crimes," Cannizzaro said. "He is, unfortunately, emblematic of the type of violent teen offender that I have repeatedly said poses our city's biggest crime challenge in 2019. If New Orleans police won't chase them, if our juvenile courts won't hold them accountable, at least my office will do everything it can to stop their crime sprees when given a viable opportunity."
According to Cannizzaro's office, five of the eight charges were initially refused because of insufficient evidence and two victims or witnesses who would not cooperate. But additional interviews obtained after Lockett's more recent arrest gave prosecutors the confidence to proceed with the charges.
The bill of information filed today charges Lockett with the following:
- April 24, 2018 -- Felony possession of stolen property, after Lockett was found inside a stolen car in the 7400 block of Kenyon Drive.
- May 14, 2018 -- Carjacking of a woman in the 6000 block of Painters Street, in which Lockett removed an infant in a car seat and left the child on a sidewalk before speeding off.
- May 26, 2018 -- Theft of a motor vehicle, taken from the 4600 block of Arts Street.
- May 27, 2018 -- Misdemeanor possession of stolen property, a stolen phone a victim traced to Lockett which has not been recovered.
- June 27, 2018 -- Aggravated assault with a firearm, after pulling a gun on a man during a dispute in the 2600 block of Gladiolus Street.
- June 30, 2018 -- Theft of a motor vehicle, taken from the 4300 block of St. Claude Avenue.
- April 15, 2019 -- Carjacking of a woman's car after she entered a convenience store in the 4700 block of Music Street, leaving her two children inside. Lockett jumped in the car and drove off, then stopped and ordered the children out by threatening to shoot and kill them if they didn't comply.
- April 21, 2019 -- Carjacking of a woman who stopped in the 3700 block of Clematis Street to offer Lockett water and then a ride when he appeared in physical distress. Lockett choked the woman before ordering her out of her car and driving off in it.
