In the bright afternoon of September 22, 2016, a burst of violence shattered the calm of a Harvey, Louisiana neighborhood, leaving a young man's life cut tragically short. Kendrick Ussin, a 20-year-old Black male, was in the courtyard of an apartment complex in the 2400 block of Kornman Boulevard when he was ambushed. At approximately 1:30 p.m., two individuals approached and opened fire, striking Ussin multiple times before fleeing the scene.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but the severity of his wounds proved fatal.
A native of New Orleans and a graduate of Helen Cox High School, Kendrick was remembered by his mother, Shawn Hebert, as a vibrant and joyful person who was 'always the energy in the room, always smiling making everyone laugh, always the jokester.' His sudden and violent death left his family and community reeling, searching for answers in the face of a senseless act. In the days and years that followed, Hebert became a vocal advocate for justice for her son, pleading with the public for any information that might lead to the apprehension of his killers.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office launched a homicide investigation, gathering evidence and witness statements from the scene. They were able to provide a limited description of one of the suspects, described as a Black male between the ages of 18 and 21, standing about 5'7' tall and weighing around 200 pounds. No description of the second suspect was ever released to the public. Despite the ongoing investigation and the heartfelt pleas from Ussin's family, no arrests have been made in the case. The identity of the individuals responsible for Kendrick Ussin's death remains unknown, and his case is a painful, unsolved chapter in the community's history. To encourage potential witnesses to come forward, a reward was offered for information leading to an arrest.
