In the early morning hours of June 29, 2014, the vibrant nightlife of New Orleans' Bourbon Street was shattered by a burst of gunfire that would tragically claim the life of 21-year-old Brittany Thomas, an African American nursing student from Hammond. Thomas was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of a gun battle that erupted between two men. She was one of ten people injured in the chaotic scene that unfolded as tourists strolled through the historic French Quarter.
Rushed to the hospital, Thomas succumbed to her injuries on July 2, 2014.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that the gunfight was initiated by Trung Le, then 22, who was reportedly seeking retaliation against an individual he believed had stolen marijuana from his friends. This altercation escalated into a shootout with an unidentified second gunman. While it is believed that the fatal bullet that struck Brittany Thomas was fired by the unknown shooter, Le was held accountable for his role in instigating the violence.
In the wake of the shooting, police identified 20-year-old Justin Odom as a person of interest, and he later surrendered to authorities. However, he was not charged in connection with the Bourbon Street shooting and was booked on unrelated warrants. The primary focus of the prosecution fell on Trung Le. In January 2016, a jury convicted Le of manslaughter in the death of Brittany Thomas and attempted manslaughter for firing at the other gunman. He was subsequently sentenced to a total of 60 years in prison, receiving the maximum penalty for both convictions to be served consecutively.
However, the legal proceedings did not end there. In a significant turn of events in April 2018, a state appeals court overturned Le's manslaughter conviction, reducing it to negligent homicide. The court reasoned that since Le did not fire the shot that killed Thomas, he could not be held responsible for her death under a manslaughter charge. His 40-year sentence for manslaughter was vacated, though his 20-year sentence for attempted manslaughter was upheld. The case was sent back for resentencing on the lesser charge, which carries a maximum of five years. As of late 2021, Le was serving a 25-year prison sentence. The second gunman involved in the shootout, the individual believed to have fired the fatal shot that killed Brittany Thomas, has never been identified or apprehended.
