Father of 8 shot and killed In the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans, on the evening of December 12, 2015, a man's life was cut short by violence. Morris Bates, Sr., a 35-year-old male, was discovered unresponsive just before 9 p.m. in the 3100 block of General Ogden Street, near the intersection with Forshey Street. He had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Morris was born on September 17, 1980.
His death left a void in the lives of his extensive family, which included his eight children, his father, grandmother, and twelve siblings. His obituary painted a picture of a man enmeshed in a large and close-knit family, with a wide circle of cousins, relatives, and friends who mourned his passing. Funeral services were held the following Saturday at the Nazareth Baptist Church, and he was laid to rest at Providence Memorial Park in Metairie.
The investigation into the death of Morris Bates, Sr. became another homicide case for the New Orleans Police Department. Information about the circumstances leading to the shooting has not been made public. To date, there have been no announced arrests or identification of any suspects in connection with his murder, leaving his family and community still waiting for answers and for justice to be served. The case remains an open wound for those who knew and loved him, a story without a final chapter.
