18 year old found dead In the early morning hours of Monday, March 9, 2015, the body of 18-year-old Darvell Barra was discovered in New Orleans. An African-American male, Barra was found deceased shortly after 7 a.m. behind an oak tree on the front lawn of a residence in the 8000 block of Vanderkloot Avenue in the eastern part of the city. The homeowner made the grim discovery and noted that Barra's hands were folded across his body.
The New Orleans Police Department was called to the scene and began a
homicide investigation. While some neighbors speculated that Barra’s body may have been placed there after his death, the discovery of a single shell casing near the curb by an ATF ballistics dog suggested that the shooting may have occurred at that location. Investigators planned to conduct ballistics testing to determine if the casing matched the wounds that killed Barra.
Despite the initial investigation and the collection of evidence, no suspects or persons of interest have ever been publicly identified in the murder of Darvell Barra. The case has since gone cold, and his death remains an unsolved homicide. Authorities have expressed hope that someone from the community will eventually come forward with information that could lead to a breakthrough in the case and bring closure to Barra's family and friends. Darvell Barra, who had attended John McDonough High School and was a graduate of the Youth Challenge Program, was laid to rest on March 21, 2015.
