On August 11, 2017, NOPD Fifth District officers assisted by members of the NOPD’s Tactical Intelligence Gathering and Enforcement Response (TIGER) Unit arrested Joseph Lewis (DOB: 08-02-1995) and Laquan Grant (DOB: 08-01-1994) in connection with a series of armed robberies that occurred in early August.
Incidents investigated in connection with the arrests include:
- An armed robbery on August 1 in the 2700 block of North Rampart Street. The victim told police that about 3 a.m., he was approached from behind and allegedly had the barrel of a gun placed against his back. The perpetrator then reportedly demanded money from the victim, but the victim responded that he had no money to give. He gave the perpetrator his debit card and PIN number, after which the perpetrator fled. The perpetrator in that case was described as a black male, standing approximately 6’2”-6’3” tall and weighing about 260 pounds. He was further described as wearing a black shirt and black ski mask.
- An armed carjacking on August 8 in the 2700 block of Royal Street. At about 2:38 a.m., the female victim had exited a business and was approaching her vehicle when she was approached from behind by an unknown subject. The subject allegedly told the victim not to move and demanded money before reportedly racking the slide of a semi-automatic pistol. The victim threw her car keys and cell phone at the perpetrator, who then entered the victim’s purple 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser and fled the area. The victim described the perpetrator as a black male standing between 5’11” and 6’3” tall with a heavy build and wearing a dark colored shirt and ski mask.
- An armed carjacking on August 8 in the 2300 block of Royal Street. At about 10 p.m., the victim was exiting his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown subject who demanded his keys while placing what the victim believed was a handgun against the victim’s side. The victim complied and the perpetrator fled in the victim’s 2001 black Ford Expedition SUV. The perpetrator was described as a black male standing about 6’0” to 6’2” tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds. He was further described as wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans, with the bottom half of his face covered with a red paisley bandana.
- An armed robbery on August 9 at the intersection of Port Street and North Villere Street. At about 11:30 p.m., the two victims were approached from behind by two unknown black males demanding the victims’ money. The victims complied and the perpetrators fled on foot. The first perpetrator was described as standing 6’1” to 6’2” tall with a medium build, wearing all dark clothing and red bandana covering his face. The second perpetrator, who reportedly brandished a black semi-automatic handgun, was described as standing 5’8” tall with a slim build and wearing all dark clothing with a black bandana covering his face.
As investigation into these incidents progressed, TIGER Unit investigators assisted Fifth District detectives by seeking additional video on all four crimes scenes. Tiger Unit investigators obtained video for each scene that showed two unidentified black males stalking the respective areas on foot.
On August 11, surveillance units located the stolen Ford Expedition and followed it to a residence the 2500 block of Port Street. Once the vehicle had stopped, marked NOPD units moved in and took the vehicle’s two occupants – later identified as Lewis and Grant – into custody. Search warrants enacted for the residence and the stolen Ford Excursion revealed further evidence linking the two subjects to the armed robberies.
During subsequent questioning by detectives, Lewis confessed to his involvement in all four armed robbery incidents, while also implicating Grant in three of the incidents.
Based on the evidence and statements made, both Lewis and Grant were arrested and booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Lewis was booked with five counts of armed robbery with a firearm, two count of illegal possession of stolen things and for violation of parole. Grant was booked with four counts of armed robbery with a firearm and two counts of illegal possession of stolen things.
Anyone with additional information on these incidents is asked to contact Fifth District detectives at 504-658-6050. Citizens with information that can help solve crimes are asked to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP.