In the winter of 2018, a young man's life was cut tragically short in New Orleans East. Marion Brit Hutson, Jr., a 21-year-old male known to his family as 'Brit' and friends as 'Nino,' was killed on February 6, 2018. Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, he had attended John Ehret High School and later pursued a career as an electrician. His life, however, would end in a fatal encounter that revolved around the sale of a firearm.
The events that led to Hutson's death were set in motion by an
acquaintance, Leander LeFrance, who arranged a gun sale between Hutson and another man, Gerald “Frog” West. During the transaction, the situation escalated dramatically when West decided to rob Hutson. In the course of the armed robbery, West shot Hutson in the head, abdomen, and shoulder, inflicting mortal wounds. Following the shooting, West took steps to conceal the crime by disposing of the firearms involved.
The investigation into Marion Hutson's murder led authorities to both Gerald West and Leander LeFrance. The diligent work of the New Orleans Police Department, particularly the collection of digital forensics and ballistics evidence, played a crucial role in building a case against the two men. Their efforts culminated in the arrests of West and LeFrance, bringing a measure of hope for justice to Hutson's grieving family and friends.
In April 2022, the legal proceedings against the two men concluded, bringing a resolution to the case. Gerald “Frog” West was found guilty of Manslaughter, Armed Robbery, and Obstruction of Justice for his role in the death of Marion Hutson. His accomplice, Leander LeFrance, entered a guilty plea to charges of Obstruction of Justice and Accessory to Murder. The convictions, secured by the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office, marked the culmination of a years-long effort to hold the individuals responsible for Hutson's death accountable for their actions.
