In the evening hours of October 30, 2017, the life of Brannon Wilkens, a male resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was tragically cut short. Fifth District officers responded to a call of an aggravated battery by shooting in the 1600 block of North Villere Street at approximately 8:32 p.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered Wilkens in the street, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical services were called to the scene, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the homicide led New Orleans Police Department detectives to identify Phillip Dominick III as the perpetrator. On December 1, 2017, members of the NOPD's Violent Offender Warrant Squad arrested Dominick in connection with the murder. He was subsequently booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center on a charge of second-degree murder.
After a four-day trial in January 2025, a jury returned a unanimous verdict, finding Phillip Dominick III guilty as charged for the second-degree murder of Brannon Wilkens. In addition to the murder conviction, Dominick was also found guilty of obstruction of justice. The successful prosecution was hailed by the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office as a significant victory in bringing accountability and justice to the victims of violent crime and their families. The case relied heavily on the testimony of eyewitnesses who, despite facing intimidation, bravely came forward to ensure that the facts of the case were brought to light.
