More than five years after Thomas Rolfes was shot and killed off of South Claiborne Avenue, the New Orleans District Attorney's Office today announced an indictment.
"We presented a case that we have been working on for the past several months to a special grand jury," said D.A. Jason Williams. "After hearing the evidence and hearing the live testimony, the grand jury came back with a true bill charging Ernest Weatherspoon with one count of armed robbery and once count of second degree murder."
Williams says Weatherspoon was arrested this morning.
"I want to acknowledge the diligent work of Detective Sergeant Andrew Waldron and Detective Barrett Morton and all in the Homicide Unit and commend them for never giving up on their search for the perpetrator of this crime," said New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson. "It was their investigative work that led to this result. We are hopeful that this indictment will lead to a full prosecution and conviction to hold this individual accountable for his actions."
Rolfes had just bought a couple of bottles of water from a convenience store at Louisiana Ave. and Claiborne, when authorities say Weatherspoon robbed then shot Rolfes on May 7, 2016.
Rolfes and his fiancée, Elizabeth Fried, were Tulane graduates who had decided to get married in the city where they met in college. Rolfes was in town scouting potential venues when he was murdered.
Williams said the case could not have been broken without the tireless work of investigators and the help from members of the community who were able to give them good information.
