New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson says criminals are becoming bolder and more brazen as the justice system has been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Noting that there has not been a full jury trial since the pandemic began, the chief said it is "no small matter” in playing a role in recent high-profile crimes.
“That plays a major role into what it is that we’re seeing today,” Ferguson said. “Because we see justice delayed...our criminals are becoming more brazen, more bolder in their actions.”
Ferguson says criminals have escalated their actions to become more violent, from domestic crimes to road rage to drug crimes.
“We saw an example of their brazen pattern just this morning in which a carjacking, or what we believe may have been a carjacking has escalated to a homicide,” Ferguson said of the incident in the 1500 block of N. Dorgenois St. Tuesday morning that ended with a woman stabbed to death and her car stolen.
“That could have been my mother,” said Ferguson. “That is the way I look at it. That could have been my mother.”
The chief said people need to be aware of their surroundings and have someone watch or accompany them is possible.
“In the past two weeks, we’ve investigated as many as nine homicides, which have resulted in four arrests or warrants. Twenty-three non-fatal shootings, six of which have been cleared by arrests or by warrant. Fifteen armed robberies, with eight cleared by arrests or warrant,” said Ferguson.
Ferguson said officers have been working to find those responsible and bring them to justice, including the arrest of a 20-year-old suspect in the murder of 12-year old Todriana Peters, shot dead in the 500 block of Delery St. last week.
Police today also released pictures and video of suspects in the shooting of nine people at a party in New Orleans East, in the 10100 block of South I-10 Service Rd.
And NOPD late Tuesday afternoon released the following list of suspects wanted for murder:
• February 27, 2017, 1600 block of Columbus Street. Leonard Ward (B/M DOB: 06-05-1963)
• May 21, 2018, 2300 block of Bienville Street. Julder Miranda (H/M DOB: 10-09-1990)
• January 24, 2020, 4100 block of South Carrolton Avenue Reco Parker (B/M DOB: 09-16-1996)
• August 4, 2020, North Prier St. / Montegut Street Robert Roberts (B/M DOB: 09-16-1983) (suspect currently incarcerated in Jefferson Parish
• September 16, 2020, 1600 block of Desire Street Ryan Williams (B/M DOB: 10-19-1980)
• October 13, 2020, France St. / Florida Ave. Darryl Douglas (B/M DOB: 02-25-2002) (suspect currently incarcerated in another jurisdiction)
• January 31, 2021, 5100 block of Saint Claude Ave. Zaokoye Chatman (B/M DOB: 07-01-1993) (suspect currently incarcerated in Shreveport, La.)
• March 3, 2021, 1200 block of Desire Street Preston Higgs (B/M DOB: 06-11-1984)
• April 30, 2021, 1100 block of Verret Street Sharod Williams (B/M DOB: 05-01-1985)
• May 30, 2021, Thalia St. / South Robertson Street Wayne O’Neal (B/M DOB 07-18-2001), Shadon Booth (B/M DOB: 05-08-2002), 16-year-old juvenile (black male)
