New Orleans police say they've arrested the gunman who shot and killed a teen at Dooky Chase Restaurant and wounded three innocent bystanders, tourists who were eating there when the shooting broke out. Police also say they've arrested the gunman's getaway driver and impounded the suspected getaway car.
Makahi Kelly, 19, is accused of shooting and killing Kareem Harris in the foyer of the iconic New Orleans restaurant. Anthony Johnson, 22, is accused of being the getaway driver. Kelly is facing a second-degree murder charge. Johnson is facing principal to second-degree murder.
NOPD Deputy Superintendent Nicholas Gernon said new-school technology and old-school detective methods, including knocking on doors and speaking with people on the street, helped them find the suspects.
"There are individuals within New Orleans who gave us information," Gernon said. "They called in tips. They helped us figure out who we needed to talk to. There are specifically parents of young people in New Orleans who stepped up and said, 'I think my child has information. I think my child can help you guys,' and they came forward, and they pushed their children to come forward and give us the information we needed, which successfully led to us last night being able to locate Mr. Kelly in the 4600 block of America Street."
Gernon said officers took Kelly into custody without incident late Wednesday night. After that, officers executed a search warrant at Kelly's home.
"We got some items that we think might be important to the investigation," Gernon said.
Gernon said shortly after arresting Kelly and executing that search warrant, officers found the suspected getaway driver, Johnson, and the suspected getaway car in the 2700 block of North Galvez Street.
NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the homicide was targeted and had nothing to do with the restaurant itself.
"The most important thing that I want to state right from the beginning is that the restaurant itself, Dooky Chase, was not the target, and that this was--and we knew at the time the homicide occurred--that this was a targeted homicide murder, but targeted of the victim who died," Kirkpatrick said. "It just happened to be in this location."
Gernon said investigators still have not discovered a motive. However, Gernon said Kelly tried to set himself on fire during questioning.
"The (suspected) shooter last night, while he was sitting in the Seventh District interrogation room (and) the detectives were prepping his arrest paperwork set some of his clothes on fire," Gernon said. "Detectives immediately put it out with a fire extinguisher. The fire department was called. EMS was called out. He was checked out. He really didn't have any injuries, but just as a precaution, we also stopped at the hospital on the way to jail. Hospital did a once-over. Physically, he's fine. It was more of a mess than an injury, and he was brought to the lockup."
New Orleans Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Michael Harrison credited the NOPD, state and federal partners, and Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans for sharing their resources, their intelligence, and their expertise to solve the crime.
"This level of collaboration is what keeps our city safe and demonstrates the strength in our public safety network," Harrison said.
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