Renard Matthews, a 17-year-old African American male from New Orleans, Louisiana, was fatally shot on the evening of June 25, 2018. A student at McDonogh 35 High School, he was known by neighbors as a 'nice young man' who enjoyed playing recreational basketball and football. His mother described him as a bit of a homebody, whose main pastime was playing video games.
He had recently started to venture out more after receiving a dog as a gift.
On that fateful Monday, Matthews was walking his new dog near the intersection of North Tonti and Independence streets, just a block from a local church. It was there that he was shot once in the head. His mobile phone was also stolen during the incident. Emergency services were called, but Matthews died at the scene, his dog reportedly still by his side.
The investigation into the murder led to the arrest of 19-year-old Jonovon Parker. On February 21, 2019, an Orleans Parish Grand Jury indicted Parker for the murder of Renard Matthews. If convicted of the charge, he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. While the motive for the shooting has not been officially released by police, the theft of Matthews' cell phone is a noted detail in the case.
In a unique and heartfelt tribute that garnered national attention, Matthews' family chose to honor his memory by celebrating his life and passions at his wake. His body was presented seated in a chair, a video game controller in his hands, with his favorite snacks placed around him. In front of him, a television played a video game, and he was dressed in a Boston Celtics jersey, a nod to his favorite basketball team. His family wanted him to be remembered as he was in life, a quiet young man who loved video games and his family. A traditional New Orleans-style jazz funeral was held for him days later.
