On a Sunday in New Orleans, 52-year-old Anita Irvin-LeViege was on a mission of love, delivering groceries to her parents. As she drove, her beloved dog, Chloe, by her side, she was speaking with a family member on the phone, completely unaware of the violence that was about to erupt. In an instant, two individuals blocked her path, and one of them opened fire with a rifle, shattering the quiet afternoon and ending a life filled with compassion and care.
The line went silent after a scream, leaving a loved one on the other end to wonder what had just transpired.
The senseless act that claimed the life of Anita Irvin-LeViege and her dog on January 3, 2021, was an attempted carjacking. Her vehicle, after the fatal shooting, continued for two blocks before crashing. The perpetrators didn't stop there; within the hour, they carjacked another woman in a nearby apartment complex, escalating their crime spree. The brazen violence of the back-to-back crimes sent a shockwave through the community and spurred a determined investigation by the New Orleans Police Department.
The search for those responsible for Anita's death culminated in the arrests of two teenagers, Que'dyn Growe and Demond Thomas, who were 15 and 16 years old at the time of the offense. In a poignant turn of events, one of the suspects' fathers played a crucial role in his son's apprehension by turning him in to the authorities after learning of his alleged involvement. Following their arrests, both teenagers confessed to their roles in the deadly carjacking.
Due to the heinous nature of their crimes, the district attorney made the decision to prosecute Growe and Thomas as adults. This move underscored the gravity of their actions and the profound impact on the victim's family and the community. Originally facing charges of second-degree murder and armed robbery, the two teenagers ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery. For his role in the tragic death of Anita Irvin-LeViege, Que'dyn Growe was sentenced to 40 years in prison, while Demond Thomas received a 30-year sentence.
