In the early morning hours of September 1, 2014, the life of 31-year-old Chad Forest was tragically cut short in a hail of gunfire in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. Forest, an African American male, was found by officers responding to a call of shots fired in the 2600 block of Dreux Avenue, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Forest's death was undertaken by the New Orleans Police Department's Homicide Division.
For a time, the case remained without a publicly identified person of interest. However, a significant break in the investigation came when an anonymous tip was provided to Crimestoppers. This crucial piece of information led detectives to identify a suspect in the fatal shooting.
Following the tip, authorities publicly named 22-year-old Joseph Smooth, Jr. as the individual responsible for Chad Forest's murder. Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued for Smooth, charging him with one count of second-degree murder.
Despite the issuance of an arrest warrant, publicly available information regarding the apprehension, trial, and conviction of Joseph Smooth, Jr. in connection with the murder of Chad Forest remains limited. The final resolution of the case and the ultimate dispensation of justice for the killing of Chad Forest are not detailed in the available online sources.
