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NOPD VOWS, U.S. Marshals Arrest Suspect for December 2022 Double Homicide

by Aaron E. Looney

January 20, 2023

Categories: On Duty

Topics: Good Police Work, Homicide, Partnerships, Third District

NOPD VOWS, U.S. Marshals Arrest Suspect for December 2022 Double Homicide

Today (January 20, 2023), the NOPD’s Violent Offender Warrant Squad and the U.S. Marshals arrested Grant Townsend (black male, DOB: 07-21-2003) in the investigation of a double homicide that occurred on December 7, 2022, in the 3200 block of Gentilly Boulevard.

At about 4:31 p.m. on December 7, NOPD Third District officers responded to a call of shots fired at the intersection of Gentilly Boulevard and Elysian Fields Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male and an adult female down in a parking and both having sustained gunshot wounds. The female victim was declared deceased on scene. The male victim was transported via EMS to a local hospital, where he was declared deceased.

On December 9, the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office identified the male victim as 21-year-old Kentrell Ancar. The female victim was found to be a 17-year-old juvenile female. Both victims’ respective causes of death were determined to be from gunshot wounds.

As investigation into the incident progressed, NOPD Homicide Unit detectives developed and positively identified Townsend as the perpetrator in this incident and obtained an arrest warrant on two counts of second-degree murder.

Today, NOPD VOWS and the U.S. Marshals located and arrested Townsend in the 4500 block of Louisa Street. Townsend was booked accordingly into the Orleans Parish Justice Center.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Anyone with additional information on this incident is urged to contact NOPD Homicide Det. Rayell Johnson at 504-658-5300.