In the early morning hours of Memorial Day, May 25, 2015, tragedy struck in New Orleans East when two brothers were found fatally shot inside a black Kia. The victims were identified as 22-year-old Kendrick Bishop, an aspiring rapper known as MuddyCupBuddy, and his 18-year-old brother, Kendred Bishop. Both men had sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene in the 4800 block of Bright Drive.
The double homicide sent shockwaves through their community and the local music scene.
The investigation into the murders quickly focused on an associate of Kendrick Bishop, a fellow rapper named Widner 'Flow' Degruy, who was signed to Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment record label. In a surprising turn of events, Degruy had publicly mourned Bishop on social media, posting a tribute to his slain friend. However, investigators soon identified him as a primary suspect. Surveillance footage captured Degruy and another individual, later identified as Jonathan 'Lil Joe' Evans, possibly fleeing the scene of the crime and making a purchase at a nearby store. A crucial piece of evidence, Degruy's cellphone, was also discovered at the scene of the shooting.
In the weeks that followed, the New Orleans Police Department issued an arrest warrant for Degruy. He was eventually apprehended and charged with two counts of second-degree murder. Jonathan Evans was also arrested and implicated in the crime. Prosecutors laid out a motive for the killings, alleging that Degruy had murdered the Bishop brothers in retaliation for what he believed was the theft of $8,000 and two firearms from his girlfriend's car a week prior to the shooting. The case against Degruy was strengthened when Evans agreed to testify against him.
After a trial in which Jonathan Evans provided key testimony, Widner 'Flow' Degruy was convicted in April 2019 of two counts of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder. The following month, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for each murder charge, an additional 30 years for the conspiracy charge, and further time for obstruction of justice. For his cooperation, Jonathan Evans received a 20-year prison sentence for his role in the deaths of Kendrick and Kendred Bishop. The conviction brought a measure of closure to a case that had taken the lives of two young brothers with promising futures.
