On a Friday night in New Orleans, February 15, 2013, Isaac 'Big Ike' Conrad Stern, a 47-year-old male, was gunned down on the sidewalk in front of his home near the Fair Grounds. He was outside waiting for a friend to bring him a cigarette when a car reportedly sped up to the corner of Romulus and Castiglione streets shortly before 7:30 p.m. The occupants of the vehicle unleashed a barrage of gunfire, striking Stern multiple times.
Witnesses reported that as Stern collapsed to the ground, three masked gunmen stood over his body, laughed, and continued to fire.
The brazen and brutal nature of the killing led police to suspect the slaying was a targeted attack. Investigators believed the murder may have been carried out by a gang known as the Mid-City Killers. The motive was thought to be retaliation for violence allegedly committed by Stern's son. This violent act is believed to have set off a chain reaction of vengeful shootings in the area.
In the aftermath of the shooting, police began to focus on potential suspects. After speaking with witnesses and reviewing social media, authorities identified Orlando Rickmon, a 26-year-old alleged associate of the Mid-City gang, as a person of interest. One of the gunmen was described as being tall with long dreadlocks, a description that matched Rickmon. While his family denied his involvement in gang activity, police suspected he may have been one of the men who killed Stern. Further developments in the investigation, including any arrests or formal charges brought in connection with Isaac Stern's murder, have not been detailed in available online sources.
