On the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2014, a burst of violence cut short the life of 27-year-old Donald Michael 'Loon' Alexander in the historic Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans. An African-American man, Alexander was walking in the 2200 block of St. Philip Street at approximately 7 p.m. when he was approached by two young men. In a sudden and brutal act, one of the individuals, described as being around 16 years old, opened fire, striking Alexander in the torso.
The New Orleans
Police Department responded to calls of an aggravated battery by shooting and discovered Alexander suffering from a serious gunshot wound. He was quickly transported to a local hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. The initial aggravated battery case was then reclassified as a homicide, and an investigation into the senseless killing was launched.
In the weeks that followed, detectives worked to piece together the events that led to the shooting. Nearly two weeks after the incident, the police department released a surveillance camera image to the public. The photograph captured three young men who were believed to have information pertinent to the murder investigation. Authorities hoped that the release of the image would generate leads from the community and help identify those responsible for Alexander's death.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement and the circulation of the persons of interest photo, the case of Donald Michael 'Loon' Alexander's murder grew cold. Information regarding any arrests or the identification of the suspects has not been publicly disclosed in the years since his death. The case remains an open investigation with the New Orleans Police Department, leaving a family and a community still searching for answers and justice for a life taken too soon.
