Do you know who murdered Corey Harris? In a tragic turn of events, a young man lost his life in a brazen shooting that unfolded in the foyer of a renowned New Orleans restaurant. The victim was identified as 19-year-old Kareem Harris. On the evening of January 16, 2026, Harris was being pursued by a gunman when he sought refuge inside the entrance of the Dooky Chase's Restaurant on Orleans Avenue. The assailant followed him into the building and continued to fire, fatally wounding Harris.
The gunfire also struck three bystanders who were waiting in the foyer.
The New Orleans Police Department launched an investigation that quickly led to the identification of two suspects. Nineteen-year-old Micaia Kelly was identified as the alleged shooter, and 22-year-old Anthony Johnson was believed to be the getaway driver. Both men were subsequently arrested. Following his arrest, Kelly reportedly attempted to set himself on fire while in custody for questioning. The motive for the shooting is believed to be jealousy and envy. Harris’s family expressed that the arrests were the first step toward justice for their loved one.
In a separate and unrelated case, another man named Corey Harris, born on September 25, 1999, was implicated in a homicide that occurred on March 29, 2019. Harris, along with Joshua Aguillard and Reginald Blanton, was a suspect in the shooting death of 17-year-old Tyneisha Muse on North Prieur Street. A male victim was also critically injured in the same incident. Harris was arrested on May 15, 2019, and subsequently indicted by an Orleans Parish grand jury in June 2019, along with three other individuals. The charges included conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and second-degree murder.
Another complex criminal case in New Orleans involved Ryan J. Harris, also known as “Red,” who was connected to the murder of a federal witness. On September 22, 2020, Cornelius Garrison, who was cooperating with federal agents in an investigation into a staged automobile collision scheme, was shot and killed outside his home. Ryan Harris, who was a participant in the fraudulent scheme, admitted to aiding and abetting in Garrison's murder. In January 2025, Harris pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including causing a death through the use of a firearm.
An older, unsolved homicide case involves a man named Corey Harris who was found with multiple gunshot wounds on March 4, 2016. His body was discovered in the middle of North Johnson Street. At the time, Crimestoppers offered a reward for information leading to an arrest in connection with his death. No suspects have been publicly identified in this case.
