On a Thursday evening in a Metairie parking lot, what began as a transaction over marijuana swiftly unraveled into a chaotic and fatal exchange of gunfire, claiming the life of 22-year-old Melvin 'Du' Francis. The incident, which occurred on December 10, 2020, also resulted in the death of a 16-year-old and left two others wounded, painting a grim picture of a drug deal that had gone horribly wrong.
Melvin Francis, a male resident of Metairie, had accompanied 21-year-old Robert White to
the parking lot on Division Street for the prearranged marijuana sale. They were met by a car carrying 16-year-old Josiah Pujols, his 17-year-old friend, and Pujols' aunt, Brittany Gaskins, who was driving. Gaskins later recounted that she believed she was taking her nephew and his friend to pick up clothing, unaware of the true nature of their errand.
The situation escalated when, during the course of the deal, the 17-year-old exited the vehicle and opened fire on Francis, killing him at the scene. In response to the initial shots, Robert White, who was also armed, returned fire into the car. The barrage of bullets struck Josiah Pujols, killing him, and also wounded his aunt, Ms. Gaskins. In the ensuing confusion, the 17-year-old was also injured.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement initiated an investigation that led to the arrest of the 17-year-old, who was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of both Melvin Francis and Josiah Pujols. Robert White was also taken into custody on drug and weapon charges; however, investigators determined that his actions were in self-defense, and he was not charged in connection with the shootings. The case against the teenage suspect proceeded through the juvenile justice system.
