Where was his momma?: What the hell was a 17-year-old black boy doing hanging out in a bar on Frenchmen Street in the wee hours of the morning?
That's supposedly what Shaquile Gilmore was doing before he was gunned down by another kid he got into a beef with in The Maison, a popular club just a few doors from Chartres and Frenchmen streets, where the shooting happened at 1:15 a.m. Sunday (12.26.10).
8th District detectives are calling it attempted murder after the shooter pumped 6 shots into Gilmore's stomach. Gilmore is hospitalized in critical condition.
8th District detectives are calling it attempted murder after the shooter pumped 6 shots into Gilmore's stomach. Gilmore is hospitalized in critical condition.
Witnesses described the gunman as a black dude, 19 to 22 years old, 5'7" tall, weighing 190 pounds, wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans. He fled in a dark-colored sedan, possibly a Nissan, down Chartres toward Elysian Fields Avenue.
Detectives are canvassing the area, looking for video that might help them identify the perp or his ride.
To ask the question again: What the hell are these kids doing running around at this hour of the night? Use the curfew laws to get them off the streets--and confiscate their guns.
Traffic stops runaway murderer: You hear all this talk about how the cops ought to ignore the minor crimes and concentrate on the major ones. Well consider this:
Last Wednesday (12.22.10) night 2 officers in the 8th District's "Canal Street Enhancement Unit" noticed the license plate on a vehicle was askew in some way.
Ofc. Kelsey Lewis and Ofc. Teddy McCann pulled the driver over in the 800
block of Canal and started writing a ticket for that and numerous other traffic violations. By the time they were done, they found the driver, Daniel McCravy, 22, was wanted for murder in Hot Springs, Arkansas--a killing that happened in September, 2009.
Ofc. Kelsey Lewis and Ofc. Teddy McCann pulled the driver over in the 800
block of Canal and started writing a ticket for that and numerous other traffic violations. By the time they were done, they found the driver, Daniel McCravy, 22, was wanted for murder in Hot Springs, Arkansas--a killing that happened in September, 2009.So the simple observation of a minor traffic infraction by these 2 NOPD officers took a wanted murderer--who had been on the lam for more than a year--off the streets.
Now it's murder: The Cameron brothers--who wreaked havoc on a Warehouse District night club last month--are in deeper trouble now.
Michael Cameron (pictured), 29, who was initially charged with aggravated battery and 
attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed a patron of Republic New Orleans on 11.29.10, was charged Thursday (12.23.10) with second-degree murder after his victim died last week.
attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed a patron of Republic New Orleans on 11.29.10, was charged Thursday (12.23.10) with second-degree murder after his victim died last week.According to investigators, Michael and his brother, Jeremy, 24, got into a ruckus with the club's bouncer. When patron Eric Roy, 26, tried to intervene, Michael allegedly stabbed him in the head; Jeremy allegedly bit the bouncer's ear off.
Michael is in OPP on $500,000 bond; Jeremy was set free on $7,500 bond.
How drunk can you be?: A fella who'd been drinking with some buddies in the French Quarter early Christmas Eve day got separated from them, so he tried to find their car. But when he couldn't, he decided to walk home. Since he lived in Slidell, he decided to walk toward I-10 eastbound. Makes about as much sense as you can when you're drunk.
When he got to N. Clairborne Avenue and Lafitte Street around 5:55 a.m., he was met by a native, who proved definitely unfriendly. The hood pulled a small silver-colored handgun and demanded the drunk's money. The misguided boozer gave up the last $48 from his pants pocket. The robber fled.
It's not known how or when the victim ever got home.
Muddled mayhem: You wonder just how long Super Chief Ronal Serpas is going to put up with sloppy police work--particularly from his Public Information Office. Here's a good case in point:
The PIO in a press release Sunday (12.26.10) trumpeted: "NOPD 8th District Patrol Officers Arrested a Repeat and Violent Offender Immediately after Stabbing on St. Charles Avenue." (Serpas is big on letting you know how quickly an arrest is made after a crime.)
Serpas crowed: "...another violent and repeat offender has been arrested and taken off the streets..." He should have waited to brag.
The press release claimed the officers had arrested "53-year-old Tyronne Miller" (with 2 "n"s) for stabbing his 44-year-old roommate several times in the back. It went on to state: "Miller has prior arrests for Armed Robbery, Attempted Armed Robbery, Theft, Simple Robbery, Resisting Arrest, Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, and Drug Law Violations."
The problem is: The only guy named "Miller" arrested for aggravated battery on 12.26.10 is a Tyrone Miller (with one "n") who is 54 years old, not 53.
And, in the records of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, there is NO indication that this Miller has previously been charged for anything. There are other Tyrone or Tyronne Millers, but none of them have amassed the felonious record the PIO claimed.
And, in the records of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, there is NO indication that this Miller has previously been charged for anything. There are other Tyrone or Tyronne Millers, but none of them have amassed the felonious record the PIO claimed.
It looks like Serpas was given him sloppy information by the PIO. They couldn't even spell the suspect's name correctly or give his correct age. And there's no evidence the guy might be the perp has any sort of criminal record.
And to say that the suspect was arrested by the swift action of the NOPD after the victim called 911 to report his roommate had stabbed him is a real stretch. C'mon, man!
(This sloppy PIO information occurs much more than you think good police work would allow. In the item above about the Arkansas murder fugitive, the PIO spelled the suspect's name as "McCarvy"; it's McCravy. The officers who made the collar were only identified as "Officer Kelsey and Officer McCann." When we asked for first names, it came back that "Kelsey" was the first name and "Lewis" was the last name; McCann's first name is Teddy.)
When you get so much misinformation, you can't help but wonder how much of the rest of it is accurate. If Super Serpas is really concerned about making the NOPD the best it can be, he needs to start paying heed to the information it is spewing out.
At it again?: Haven't we seen this movie before? Guy walks in to bar, pulls a gun, demands money from the cash register, bartender surrenders the loot, robber flees but is arrested short time later.
Yup. Happened again at Buffa's Bar & Restaurant, 1001 Esplanade Ave., 
just before midnight Sunday (12.26.10). It took 8th District officers responding to the scene no time at all to arrest Travis Chapuis, 25, and charge him with armed robbery.
just before midnight Sunday (12.26.10). It took 8th District officers responding to the scene no time at all to arrest Travis Chapuis, 25, and charge him with armed robbery.Chapuis has been arrested before for a similar caper. He was charged after the St. Charles Bar & Billards, 736 St. Charles Ave., was knocked over by an armed robber using virtually the same MO in the summer of 2009.
Ironically, Buffa's was robbed about the same time that summer. And District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro refused the charges against both Chapuis and the accused robber of Buffa's without explanation. How about doing your job this time, Leon, and protect us from thugs like these.
Woman leads them astray: It's not the first time in history it's happened, of course. But 2 young men, 24 and 25, made the acquaintance of a petite blond in the 200 block of Bourbon Street early on Christmas Eve (12.24.10) morning around 12:39 a.m.
After what the police report said were "some brief negotiations," the 2 guys agreed to walk with the young chick to an unspecified destination. While meandering for some time, the girl chatted numerous times on her cellphone, until they got to Dauphine and Gov. Nicholls streets where a black dude accosted them with a revolver and demanded the men's money. The victims refused and fought off the would-be robber before fleeing--looking back to see the thug fire 2 shots at them.
Police said the victims appeared to be intoxicated--imagine that--and neither was able to describe the dude. One victim didn't want to answer any questions at all, but the other couldn't forget the blond chick: White female, 4'10" to 5' tall, thin build. You can imagine the visions of sugarplums dancing in his head, but cops were unable to locate any such female after the incident.
Detectives did locate a video surveillance camera that showed the black gunman getting into a tan or gold Honda parked at Dauphine and Esplanade Avenue.
They are canvassing the area for additional video surveillance and for witnesses. They will re-interview the victims after they sober up.
According to Chief Serpas, the 8th District has established a Narcotics/Vice unit which has been targeting street-level narcotics and prostitution. As of August 2010, the 8th District's unit has investigated 22 prostitution cases resulting in 30 arrests.
Taking instead of giving: Not exactly in the spirit of "better to give than receive," the victims did the giving in these cases:
- Sunday (12.26.10) 10:05 p.m.: A 29-year-old white woman walking in the 700 block of Kerlerec Street (between Bourbon and Royal streets) was knocked to the ground by a black hoodlum who grabbed her purse and fled.
He was described as 20 to 25 years old, with a slim build and dark complexion, wearing a red baseball cap, off-white sweater and blue jeans.
- Wednesday (12.22.10) 9:00 p.m.: A white guy got into a cab on Bourbon Street when a black dude got in the other side and tried to grab his money. They struggled and the would-be robber fled on foot up Bourbon toward Canal Street.
He was described as 27 years old, 6' tall, with a thin build and long dreadlocks with blue beads.
- Tuesday (12.21.10) 4:24 p.m.: Two 15-year-old white boys walking near
University Place and Canal Street were accosted by 2 black boys who pulled a gun and forced them into an alley where they were robbed of cash and 2 cellphones.
The robbers, who were caught on video surveillance, were described: one as 5'9" to 6' tall, weighing 140 pounds, with long dreadlocks, wearing a fluorescent traffic vest; the other as 5'6" tall, weighing 130 pounds, with short dreadlocks, wearing a black hooded jacket.
- Monday (12.20.10) 8:50 p.m.: Two white men, one 49 and the other 27, and a 22-year-old white woman were robbed at gunpoint by a black man while walking on Burgundy Street near St. Louis Street. The men threw their cash on the ground and the robber scooped it up and grabbed the woman's purse before fleeing.
8th District mounted police saw the perp running and apprehended him 
a few blocks away. They charged Lionel Hooks, 23, with 3 counts of armed robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. He is sitting in OPP on $775,000 bond.
a few blocks away. They charged Lionel Hooks, 23, with 3 counts of armed robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. He is sitting in OPP on $775,000 bond.* * *
Crimes last week in the 8th District
(Click on the crime map to enlarge it)
Sunday (12.19.10)
Crimes last week in the 8th District
(Click on the crime map to enlarge it)
Sunday (12.19.10)Aggravated Battery, Royal & St Peter, 12:02 a.m.
Business Burglary, 547 St Ann, 4:45 a.m.
Theft, 821 Gravier, 5:00 a.m.
Auto Theft, 7001 St Louis, 8:51 a.m.
Business Burglary, 351 Andrew Higgins, 4:33 p.m.
Business Burglary, 547 St Ann, 4:45 a.m.
Theft, 821 Gravier, 5:00 a.m.
Auto Theft, 7001 St Louis, 8:51 a.m.
Business Burglary, 351 Andrew Higgins, 4:33 p.m.
Monday (12.20.10)
Auto Burglary, Camp & Natchez, 2:08 a.m.
Shoplifting, 232 Bourbon, 2:27 p.m.
Auto Theft, 800 Magazine, 2:26 p.m.
Theft, 700 Tchoupitoulas, 6:48 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 500 Burgundy, 8:51 p.m.
Shoplifting, 232 Bourbon, 2:27 p.m.
Auto Theft, 800 Magazine, 2:26 p.m.
Theft, 700 Tchoupitoulas, 6:48 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 500 Burgundy, 8:51 p.m.
Tuesday (12.21.10)
Theft, 8 Canal, 11:16 a.m.
Auto Theft, S Claiborne & Cleveland, 3:51 p.m.
Theft, 228 Poydras, 3:57 p.m.
Shoplifting, 232 Bourbon, 5:08 p.m.
Armed Robbery, Canal & University, 5:56 p.m.
Auto Theft, S Claiborne & Cleveland, 3:51 p.m.
Theft, 228 Poydras, 3:57 p.m.
Shoplifting, 232 Bourbon, 5:08 p.m.
Armed Robbery, Canal & University, 5:56 p.m.
Wednesday (12.22.10)
Pickpocketing, St Joseph & Tchoupitoulas, 1:58 a.m.
Theft, 827 Toulouse, 4:31 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Chartres & Esplanade, 7:24 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 621 Esplanade, 10:22 a.m.
Theft, 820 Poydras, 11:52 a.m.
Theft, 401 Magazine, 1:21 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 800 St Ann, 9:02 p.m.
Theft, 827 Toulouse, 4:31 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Chartres & Esplanade, 7:24 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 621 Esplanade, 10:22 a.m.
Theft, 820 Poydras, 11:52 a.m.
Theft, 401 Magazine, 1:21 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 800 St Ann, 9:02 p.m.
Thursday (12.23.10)
Shoplifting, 1 Poydras, 3:41 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1200 N Peters, 7:25 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1200 N Peters, 7:25 p.m.
Friday (12.24.10)
Armed Robbery, Dauphine & Gov Nicholls, 12:39 a.m.
Theft, 417 Frenchmen', 11:11 a.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Frenchmen, 8:41 p.m.
Theft, 200 Poydras, 9:35 p.m.
Theft, 417 Frenchmen', 11:11 a.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Frenchmen, 8:41 p.m.
Theft, 200 Poydras, 9:35 p.m.
Saturday (12.25.10)
None
* * *
As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.comThom Kahler
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