In a tragedy that devastated a New Orleans family, 21-year-old Bradley Veal, a Black man, was killed just one week after his older brother was murdered. Bradley was one of three inseparable brothers, along with Brandon, 30, and Bryan, 26. A relative said the young men were hardworking, loved their family, and were rarely seen apart. "If you saw one, you’d see all three of them,” the family member said.
"The boys were like just big teddy bears."
The family’s nightmare began on the evening of February 13, 2021, when Bryan Veal was shot and killed in the Central City neighborhood at the corner of Washington and Loyola Avenues. Police found him with multiple bullet wounds. A second person was also injured in the shooting. At the time, the family began planning Bryan's funeral, unaware that their grief was about to be compounded in the most horrific way.
Seven days later, on the evening of February 20, Bradley and his brother Brandon were returning home after getting food from a nearby McDonald’s. As they walked in the 3100 block of Carondelet Street, less than a half-mile from where Bryan died, they were ambushed. Investigators believe three people emerged from a row of trees and opened fire with three different caliber weapons. One brother died at the scene, and the other was pronounced dead at a hospital. The gunmen fled in a car.
The attack was captured on a doorbell camera, which recorded the sound of up to 40 gunshots. Stray bullets struck at least four nearby homes, but no one else was hurt. The loss of all three sons left their family shattered. “This is like a nightmare,” a relative told reporters. “Her entire family was just wiped out. All three of her kids were just ripped from her.” The family later held a private service, where three caskets were placed side by side for the brothers.
The New Orleans Police Department is investigating the homicides but has not released a motive or said whether the killings are related. As of March 2021, no arrests had been made and no suspects had been publicly identified. The case remains unsolved. Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the killings. Tipsters can call (504) 822-1111.
