In the midst of a violent gang war that plagued the streets of New Orleans, 19-year-old Terran Jessie Young, a male, was fatally shot on the night of June 15, 2017. The incident, which also claimed the life of 28-year-old Darrell Pollard and left a third individual wounded, unfolded at the intersection of Carrollton Avenue and Earhart Boulevard. An autopsy later confirmed that Young died from perforating gunshot wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
The investigation
into the triple shooting revealed that it was not a random act of violence but rather a targeted attack rooted in an ongoing feud between two rival gangs, the 'Byrd Gang' and the 'Ghost Gang.' Law enforcement identified both Young and Pollard as members of the Byrd Gang. The lead investigator on the case, Detective Leonard Bendy, and other detectives from the New Orleans Police Department's Homicide Division, testified that the killings were part of a series of retaliatory shootings between the two criminal organizations.
A significant breakthrough in the case came with the identification of Dwight Washington, a member of the rival Ghost Gang, as a primary suspect. Crucial evidence against Washington included cell phone records that placed him at the scene of the crime on the night of the murders. Further investigation tracked his movements to the location where the getaway car, a gold Accord, was later found burned in an attempt to destroy evidence. This, coupled with photographic evidence of Washington with other Ghost Gang members and wearing the gang's insignia, solidified the case against him.
Following a trial that began on February 10, 2020, a jury found Dwight Washington guilty on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder, and one count of obstruction of justice. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for the murder charges, with additional lengthy sentences for the other convictions, all to be served concurrently. While Washington appealed the verdict, citing insufficient evidence and a non-unanimous jury decision, the court of appeals noted that the evidence presented, including the cell phone data and witness testimonies, was sufficient to link him to the crimes. However, his convictions were later vacated due to the non-unanimous jury verdict, which was deemed unconstitutional. There is no readily available public information regarding any other arrests or convictions in connection with the murder of Terran Young.
