In the early morning hours of July 7, 2014, the body of 18-year-old Joseph Duplessis IV, a Black male, was discovered behind an abandoned house in the 2600 block of Monroe Street in New Orleans. The young man, known to some as "Lil Joe," had been fatally wounded by gunfire.
The initial investigation into the death of the Hollygrove teen led to the identification of two suspects.
In the days following the discovery, the New Orleans Police Department began to piece together the events that led to the tragic end of Duplessis's life. While the specific details of what led to the shooting have not been widely publicized, the investigation ultimately pointed to two individuals being responsible for his death.
In a development that brought a measure of closure to the case, two men were arrested and charged in connection with the murder. Though the path through the criminal justice system can be a lengthy one, the case against the two suspects concluded with both pleading guilty to their roles in the shooting death of Joseph Duplessis IV. This admission of guilt circumvented the need for a full trial and secured convictions in the case. The resolution of the case through guilty pleas ensured that the individuals responsible were held accountable for the untimely death of the 18-year-old.
