On a Saturday night in May of 2017, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of a Metairie neighborhood, leaving one man dead and another wounded. The incident, which unfolded around 9 p.m. in the 400 block of North Laurel Street, claimed the life of Leonard White. When Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputies arrived at the scene, they found White suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate response, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the location of the shooting. Another man, a 33-year-old from Metairie, was also struck by the gunfire but survived.
The investigation into the deadly double shooting quickly pointed to a suspect with a history of legal troubles. Within days, authorities arrested Norman 'G' Johnson, who was on parole for a prior conviction at the time of the homicide. Investigators identified Johnson as the gunman who opened fire on White and the other victim. While the motive for the shooting was not immediately made public, the swiftness of the arrest suggested that law enforcement had clear evidence pointing to Johnson's involvement. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office booked him on charges related to the murder of Leonard White and the injury of the second individual.
In the aftermath of the violence, conflicting information emerged regarding Leonard White's age. Initial reports from law enforcement stated he was 38 years old and a resident of River Ridge. However, an obituary published for White indicated that he was 28. Regardless of his age, his life was cut tragically short in an act of violence that also endangered another. The case against Norman Johnson would proceed through the legal system, holding the promise of justice for the victims and their families. The resolution of the charges against him would ultimately determine the final chapter in the story of Leonard White's untimely death.
