On a summer afternoon in New Orleans, what should have been a peaceful Sunday turned into a day of tragedy and mystery. On June 21, 2015, at approximately 2:45 p.m., police discovered the body of 27-year-old Kenneth Hall Jr., a male, inside his black Nissan Titan. He had been fatally shot. The vehicle was located near the intersection of Donner Drive and Marr Avenue in the Algiers section of the city.
Kenneth, known to some as “Stunnamannken,” was born on February 16, 1988.
He was described by his family as an intelligent and determined man who was deeply loved by his nieces and nephews. His mother was the apple of his eye, a standard by which he measured others. He was remembered as not just a friend to many, but a beloved son, brother, and uncle. At the time of his death, he was working in production and entertainment, a true entrepreneur according to his family.
In the years that have passed since his untimely death, the case has remained open. Despite the violent nature of his death, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been publicly identified. The lack of resolution has left his family waiting for justice. His mother, Deidra Smoot-Hall, has been a vocal advocate, refusing to let her son become just another statistic in a city plagued by gun violence. She, along with other mothers who have lost children to violence, has participated in marches to bring attention to the many unsolved homicides in New Orleans. The family continues to hope that one day the person or persons responsible for Kenneth's death will be brought to justice, bringing some measure of peace to their enduring grief.
