In the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans, a burst of gunfire on the evening of March 15, 2022, tragically cut short the lives of two individuals, leaving a community in shock and mourning. The victims were identified as 21-year-old Sebastian Hubbard Jr. and 13-year-old Byron Thomas. The shooting occurred shortly after 8 p.m. in the Hoffman Triangle area, near Taylor Park at the intersection of Washington Avenue and South Roman Street.
When police arrived at the scene, they
discovered a grim tableau. One of the victims was located inside the park, while the other was found near a vehicle on Washington Avenue. Both Hubbard and Thomas had sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. The incident was immediately investigated as a double homicide by the New Orleans Police Department.
In the days following the shooting, the community grappled with the senseless violence that had claimed a young man and a child. Sebastian Hubbard Jr., a graduate of New Orleans Math & Science Charter School, was remembered in his obituary as a beloved son who had been working in the French Quarter. The suddenness of his death left his family and friends devastated.
Despite the ongoing investigation into the double homicide, information regarding a motive for the shooting has not been publicly released. As of now, there have been no arrests made in connection with the deaths of Sebastian Hubbard Jr. and Byron Thomas. The case remains an open and active investigation, leaving a void in the lives of their loved ones and a lingering sense of unanswered questions within the community.
