On a summer evening in New Orleans, the life of Brandon Joseph Sorapuru, a 21-year-old African American male, was tragically cut short. On June 3, 2015, Sorapuru was in New Orleans East when a fight broke out. He was a bystander to the altercation when he was fatally shot in the chest. A graduate of McDonogh 35 Senior High School, Sorapuru had furthered his education at both Delgado Community College and Nunez Community College, where he earned a welding certification.
Witnesses at the
scene described the chaos of the fight that ultimately led to the shooting. One individual, Torrel Knox, was identified by a witness as a primary participant in the brawl. The same witness reported seeing Knox flee the area with a gun in his hand immediately after the shooting. This information set the New Orleans Police Department on a determined path to uncover the truth behind Sorapuru's untimely death and bring the person responsible to justice.
The investigation into the homicide quickly centered on Knox as the primary suspect. A search of his mother's home, located near the scene of the crime, uncovered the suspected murder weapon. Investigators also found a towel wrapped around the gun which, through DNA analysis, was linked to Knox. By November 2015, an arrest warrant for second-degree murder was issued for Knox, but he had already fled the city, prompting a multi-year manhunt.
After years on the run, Torrel Knox was finally located and apprehended by U.S. Marshals. His mother, Shantrell Knox, was also arrested on allegations that she had harbored her fugitive son. Following his capture, Knox was charged with second-degree murder, public intimidation, and illegal possession of a firearm for his role in the death of Brandon Sorapuru.
