On April 14, 2023, the NOPD Violent Offender Squad (VOWS) – with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals – arrested a 17-year-old juvenile male from Jefferson Parish in connection with a series of sexual assault incidents in the Fourth District.
The offenses occurred during a two-week period between March 26 – April 7, 2023, in the Rue Parc Fontaine area in the Fourth District.
This arrest was made possible due to the vital cooperation of the victims, diligence by detectives in both the NOPD Special Victims Section Sex Crimes Unit and Fourth District, tips from the community and the assistance of Louisiana State Police Crime Lab, which quickly processed DNA from one of the crime scenes and was able to secure a match with the suspect.
At this time, the arrested suspect has been booked with one count of first-degree rape, one count of attempted first-degree rape and one count of armed robbery. Additional charges are forthcoming pending further investigation.
“I want to commend our detectives in the Special Victims Section and in the Fourth District, who worked relentlessly to get this offender off the streets and end this terrifying threat to the women in our community,” NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork said. “I also want to give special thanks to our partners with the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for working so quickly to fast track the processing of DNA in this case, which ultimately led to our suspect. We could not have done it without them. Also, thank you to our VOWS Unit and the U.S. Marshals for making a quick apprehension of the suspect.
“To the community…we thank you for your assistance. We had multiple tips to Crimestoppers and other information as people stepped up to assist in the investigation. To the victims in this case, for bravely facing this horror and doing what they needed to do to help us make this arrest, we thank you for your courage,” the superintendent said.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is urged to contact NOPD Special Victims Section Sex Crimes Unit detectives at 504-658-5523.
Have a question or correction? Please email NOPD’s Public Affairs Division at nopdpio@nola.gov.