Do you know who killed Deron Hitchens? On a festive Mardi Gras night in New Orleans, March 4, 2014, the celebration was shattered by violence that claimed the life of 25-year-old Deron Hitchens. A male, Hitchens was discovered inside a silver Toyota, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The vehicle was located outside of Blaine Kern Studios, a place typically associated with the city's vibrant parade culture.
Another man, 29-year-old Kendrell Fields, was also found deceased in the parking lot of the studio near the Port of New Orleans. Investigators at the time stated that they did not believe the shootings were a random act of violence.
The case remained without an arrest for over four years, a period of uncertainty for the families of the victims. The pain for the Hitchens family was compounded when Deron's older brother also fell victim to gun violence just over three years later. The family's grief was a stark reminder of the persistent cycle of violence that can plague a community. Deron Hitchens' obituary remembered him as Deron Rashad Hitchens Sr., indicating he was a father.
A significant development in the investigation came on October 3, 2018, when the New Orleans Police Department arrested a suspect in connection with the double murder. Thirty-five-year-old Michael Angeletta was taken into custody at the intersection of Common and Carondelet streets. His arrest marked a long-awaited step towards potential justice for Deron Hitchens and Kendrell Fields, bringing a renewed focus to a case that had remained unresolved for years.
