Jerome Roberts, a 34-year-old man, was found shot to death in the early morning hours of Monday, March 1, 2021, in the Seabrook neighborhood of New Orleans. He had been shot multiple times and was discovered near Mayo Boulevard and the I-10 service road. His family believes that robbery may have been the motive for his killing and that the perpetrator was likely someone he knew.
At the time of the initial reports, New Orleans police had not publicly identified any suspects in the homicide.
The death of Jerome Roberts was a profound tragedy for his family, who had experienced a similar loss just months prior. His younger brother, Benny Roberts, had been fatally shot in August 2020 in the Little Woods neighborhood. The loss of two sons to gun violence left their mother, Joyce Roberts, and the rest of their family devastated by the recurring violence in their community. Jerome was remembered by his loved ones as a man with a 'heart of gold,' always happy, and someone who deeply loved his family.
Years before his untimely death, Jerome Roberts was hailed as a local hero for his courageous actions in June 2017. He and another man braved a house fire to rescue a three-year-old neighbor who was trapped inside a back bedroom. Roberts expressed at the time that he wouldn't hesitate to do it again to save a child's life. His death was a stark and tragic contrast to his life-saving bravery, cutting short the life of a man remembered for his compassion and heroism.
