Do you know who killed Charles Collins? In the spring of 2014, a burst of gunfire shattered the evening calm in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, leaving a young man dead and a community reeling. Charles Collins, a 23-year-old male, was killed on Saturday, April 12, 2014, in a quadruple shooting that also wounded three others. The incident unfolded around 7:45 p.m. in the 2100 block of Lamanche Street, a residential area that became the scene of a sudden and brutal act of violence.
Reports from that evening paint a chaotic
picture. Collins was with a group of people, including a one-year-old girl, a 17-year-old male, and a 20-year-old male, when an unknown gunman approached them. Without warning, the assailant opened fire, spraying bullets into the small gathering. In the immediate aftermath, emergency services rushed to the scene to find four victims struck by gunfire. All four were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Charles Collins succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The one-year-old girl sustained a graze wound to her ear and was listed in stable condition, a fortunate survivor of the harrowing event. The two other young men, aged 17 and 20, were also treated for their injuries and were initially reported to be in stable condition. The early stages of the investigation were marked by a search for answers, as the New Orleans Police Department worked to piece together the events that led to the deadly shooting.
In the days and weeks that followed, the investigation into the murder of Charles Collins and the wounding of the three others continued. However, details regarding a motive for the attack or the identification of any suspects were not readily made public. The search for justice for Charles Collins became one of the many ongoing homicide investigations in a city that has long grappled with gun violence. The story of that tragic evening on Lamanche Street serves as a somber reminder of a life cut short and the lasting impact of violence on a neighborhood and its families. As of the latest available information, details regarding any arrests or the naming of a suspect or suspects in the death of Charles Collins have not been released. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for his loved ones and the community.
