In the early evening chill of December 4, 2017, the sound of gunfire shattered the quiet of the 7800 block of South Coronet Court in New Orleans. When the echoes faded, a man lay unresponsive in a driveway, suffering from the devastating impact of multiple gunshots to his head and forearm. The victim was identified as Vashawn Tate, a 30-year-old Black male. Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he fought for his life for nearly two weeks.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, Vashawn Tate succumbed to his injuries on December 17, 2017.
What began as an aggravated battery by shooting investigation swiftly turned into a homicide case upon Tate's death. New Orleans Police Department homicide detectives took the lead, delving into the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting. As they pieced together the evidence and followed leads, a suspect emerged from the shadows of their investigation. The man they identified as the perpetrator was David Hester.
On January 5, 2018, less than a month after Tate’s passing, a coordinated effort between the NOPD's Violent Offenders Warrant Squad and the U.S. Marshals led to the apprehension of David Hester. He was taken into custody and booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center. The charges against him were severe, reflecting the violent nature of the crime. Hester faced accusations of second-degree murder, simple criminal damage to property, illegal use of a weapon, and possession of a firearm by a person with a prior conviction for domestic abuse battery. His arrest also brought to light outstanding warrants for other alleged offenses, including simple battery domestic, simple criminal damage to property, and violations of protective orders, painting a broader picture of a troubled history.
