A robbery that occurred on New Year's Eve has now been upgrated to a homicide after the victim died because of his injuries during the encounter, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.
Deputies were dispatched to the 400 block of Terry Parkway around 10:30 a.m. to speak with the 82-year-old victim. The man stated that around 6:30 a.m. that morning, he was taking trash to a dumpster behind a business. He was approached by two suspects who questioned his presence in the area. They became involved in a verbal altercation, and one of the suspects took the victim's cell phone from his hand and pushed him to the ground.
The Gretna man, later sought treatment at a local hospital for injuries sustained during his fall after he was pushed. He succumbed to his injuries on the first of January. The victim's death was ruled a homicide following an autopsy this morning.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call our Homicide Section at 504-364-5300 or contact Crimestoppers.
This incident brings the total number of homicides recorded in 2019 to 48.