In the summer of 2015, a violent encounter in New Orleans East claimed the life of 17-year-old Gerald Morgan and left his young nephew wounded. On the afternoon of June 21, 2015, Gerald was outside a home in the 5900 block of Boeing Street when gunfire erupted. He was fatally shot in the head, and his 4-year-old nephew was also struck by the crossfire.
Emergency responders found Gerald on the ground and transported him to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
According to family members, the shooting may have stemmed from a misunderstanding and an earlier dispute involving another younger relative whom Gerald was defending. His mother indicated that he had been anticipating a fight and admitted that he was armed at the time of the incident. Witnesses reported seeing suspects with their faces covered open fire from at least two vehicles before fleeing the scene. The tragic event cut short the life of the teenager, who was an honor student at Restoration Christian Academy.
The investigation into the shooting led to the identification and arrest of three suspects. In August 2019, Joseph Dixon, Damond Jackson, and Sterling Lewis, all 22 years old at the time, entered into a plea agreement, avoiding trials on murder charges. The prosecutor's office stated that Dixon and Jackson were the gunmen in the fatal shooting. They pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges and were subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison. Lewis, whose vehicle was connected to the crime, pleaded guilty and received a 10-year prison sentence for his role in the incident.
