In the early hours of a Sunday morning in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans, a life was cut short, sparking grief and questions within the community. Keith 'Magic' Atkinson, a 31-year-old male, was fatally shot on February 16, 2014. The incident was the result of an encounter with a New Orleans police officer.
The officer involved was identified as Jonathan Hirdes, an eight-year veteran of the force.
According to the New Orleans Police Department, officers perceived a threat from Atkinson. The department stated that a. 45 caliber handgun was found next to him at the scene. A subsequent check of the firearm's serial number indicated that it had been reported stolen from Baton Rouge the previous May. In the wake of the shooting, Officer Hirdes was reassigned to desk duty as the NOPD's Public Integrity Bureau launched an investigation into the incident.
However, the official narrative was quickly challenged by those who knew Atkinson. Rapper Lil Wayne, a friend of Atkinson's, posted on social media that his friend did not have a gun and was instead holding a drink at the time of the shooting. Atkinson's family also disputed the police account, calling his death an unjustified killing and demanding answers.
The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy and the findings were shared by a spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department. The chief investigator for the coroner's office, John Gagliano, stated that Atkinson had been shot a total of four times while he was in an upright position. The report specified that the bullets were fired from a distance and not at close range. The wounds were located on the side of his torso, twice on his right arm, and once on his right ankle, with the shot to the torso being the fatal one.
Following the shooting, the investigation was taken over by the Public Integrity Bureau Investigation Team. The officer's weapon was also collected for ballistics testing. Investigators appealed to the public for any potential video evidence or additional information regarding the shooting. The outcome of this investigation and whether any disciplinary action was taken against Officer Hirdes is not publicly available.
