Category: Crime

Hit-and-run death of French Quarter tourist Josh Woodruff unsolved 4 years later

NOPD released a camera image of the dark-colored sedan suspected of hitting and killing Joshua Woodruff on New Year’s Day 2016.

The death of a French Quarter tourist who was struck and killed by a car as he celebrated the New Year’s holiday in 2016 remains unsolved four years later.

New Orleans police believe that Joshua Woodruff was struck by a car at the corner of Dumaine and Decatur streets at approximately 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day in 2016.

Woodruff became stuck under the car and was dragged throughout the French Quarter before the driver entered the U.S. Highway 90 expressway, said New Orleans Police Department Detective Robert Barrere.

The driver drove across the Mississippi River bridge before Woodruff was dislodged along the Westbank Expressway approximately six miles away near the General de Gaulle exit, said Barrere.

Barrere added that the car exited the expressway at the Algiers exit at approximately 3:30 a.m.

The tail light pattern of the car that allegedly struck Joshua Woodruff in the French Quarter on New Year’s Day 2016. Courtesy of the NOPD.

Several dozen more images of the vehicle suspected of hitting Woodruff were obtained from nearby surveillance cameras were released nearly two years after his death.

Despite their blurriness, Barrere said the images that were released are some of the better images police were able to capture of the car.

The car is described as a dark-colored sedan with a silver windshield trim and distinctive headlight and tail light patterns, Barrere said.

“I believe someone knows who did this,” said Barrere at a press conference in 2017. “The person who did knows he did this.”

Crimestoppers is offering up to $5,000 that leads to the arrest and indictment of the suspect.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact detective Barrere at 504-658-5300. Anonymous callers may call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or 877-903-7867.

Police identify suspect wanted for attempted armed robbery on Ursulines Avenue

David Dixon. Picture courtesy of the NOPD.

An arrest warrant was obtained for a suspect wanted in an alleged Jan. 3 attempted armed robbery on Ursulines Avenue, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) said.

After an investigation, detectives determined that David Dixon, 34, approached the victim at approximately 1:28 a.m. in the 600 block of Ursulines Avenue.

Dixon was armed with a gun and allegedly demanded the victim’s property at gunpoint, the NOPD said. Dixon was reportedly unsuccessful and fled the scene, the NOPD said.

Anyone with information on this incident or the whereabouts of Dixon is asked to contact NOPD Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080. Anonymous callers can contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free 877-903-7867.

New Orleans police search for Bourbon Street robbery suspects who took dog, fanny pack from victim

Courtesy of the New Orleans Police Department.

Three suspects allegedly robbed a victim of their dog and fanny pack in the 600 block of Bourbon Street on Jan. 1, according to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD).

The alleged robbery occurred at approximately 7 a.m. on New Year’s Day when a female suspect reportedly attacked the victim then took their dog, the NOPD said.

Two more suspects–both male–allegedly ran to the scene and also attacked the victim, this time taking their fanny pack, the NOPD said.

The NOPD released surveillance photos on Jan. 6 that allegedly show the suspects, which are pictured above.

Anyone with information in identifying the three suspects and their whereabouts is asked to contact NOPD Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080. Anonymous callers can call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 877-903-7867.

Group of women sought in connection to stabbing on Canal Street

Images courtesy of the NOPD.

A person was stabbed multiple times on Canal Street Dec. 20 following a a verbal altercation with a group of four women, the New Orleans Police Department said.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:52 a.m. in the 800 block of Canal St., the NOPD said, when the group of women engaged in a verbal argument with the victim shortly before the encounter turned into a physical altercation.

One of the women reportedly used a sharp object to stab the victim multiple times before fleeing the scene, the NOPD said.

The NOPD released surveillance camera footage of the suspects on Dec. 26, which is pictured above.

The victim was listed in stable condition on Dec. 26, the NOPD said.

Anyone with information on the incident and the identity of the incident is asked to contact NOPD Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080. Anonymous callers can contact Crimestoppers GNO at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 877-903-7867.

Reported stolen camera takes photo of alleged Saint Ann Street vehicle burglary suspect

Courtesy of the NOPD.

An in-car camera on Dec. 11 allegedly captured the image of a suspect burglarizing a vehicle on Saint Ann Street just before walking away with the camera, the New Orleans Police Department said.

The alleged burglary took place approximately 1:30 a.m. in the 1000 block of Saint Ann St., the NOPD said.

A camera mounted inside the car allegedly took a photograph the suspect entering the vehicle and immediately uploaded the image to the victim, the NOPD said.

The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction, the NOPD said.

The NOPD released the surveillance photo of the suspect, who is pictured above.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080, or to call anonymously to Crimestoppers GNO at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-7867.