The NOPD has arrested Darnell Celestin (DOB: 06-23-1984) in the investigation of a homicide that occurred hours earlier on April 25, 2019 at the intersection of Delaware and Arizona Streets in the Fourth District.

At approximately 2:12 p.m., units responded to a call for service of an aggravated battery by shooting in the 2600 block of General DeGaulle Drive. Upon arrival, officers observed an unresponsive male victim lying in the parking lot of a gas station with an apparent gunshot wound to back. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Through the course of the investigation, NOPD detectives were able to determine that the shooting occurred at the intersection of Delaware and Arizona Streets, with the victim having fled the scene and collapsing at a nearby gas station in the 2600 block of General DeGaulle Drive, where he was located. Detectives were also able to positively identify Celestin as the perpetrator of the homicide and to obtain a warrant for his arrest on one count of second degree murder.

With the assistance of the NOPD Special Operations Division’s Tactical Intelligence Gathering and Enforcement Response (TIGER) Unit, Celestin was located and apprehended at about 6:45 p.m. in the 3000 block of Holiday Drive. Celestin was placed under arrest and subsequently booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact NOPD Fourth District detectives at 504-658-6040.