On a Thursday afternoon in New Orleans, November 2, 2017, the life of a promising young Black man, Peter Leon Oatis Jr., was tragically cut short at the age of 22. A senior at Southern University at New Orleans with aspirations of becoming a teacher, Oatis was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound. His body was found near the intersection of Donald Douglas Drive and Lakeshore Drive.
The day before his death, Oatis had been at his aunt's home.
He mentioned he was going to get dinner and then head to his own house. When his aunt was unable to reach him the following day, and his employer confirmed he had not shown up for work, concern grew for his well-being. The unfortunate discovery of his body later that day confirmed the worst fears.
In the wake of the shooting, Oatis's family expressed their belief that he may have been the victim of a carjacking. At the time, the New Orleans Police Department had not publicly disclosed any potential motives or identified any persons of interest in the case. They issued a public plea for information, encouraging anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact Crimestoppers.
Despite the passage of time, publicly available information does not indicate that any arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Peter Leon Oatis Jr. The investigation into his death remains open, leaving his family and community still searching for answers and justice for a young life taken too soon.
