On a Wednesday evening in New Orleans, on December 14, 2011, a burst of gunfire shattered the calm on Annunciation Street, leaving two men fatally wounded. One of the victims was 28-year-old Jamal 'Chicken' Philips, a Black male who was a father to three children. He and his friend, Terrance Barber Jr., were sitting inside a burgundy Buick Century shortly after 7 p.m. when their lives were abruptly cut short.
The two men were parked at 3915 Annunciation St. with Philips in the driver's seat when a black pickup truck approached. Occupants of the truck unleashed a hail of bullets at the Buick, striking both Philips and Barber. In the chaotic moments that followed, the bullet-riddled Buick rolled forward, eventually crashing into another vehicle on the opposite side of the street.
Emergency services were called to the scene, but for Terrance Barber Jr., it was too late; he was pronounced dead at the location of the shooting. Philips was rushed to a nearby hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he succumbed to them shortly after arrival.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the New Orleans Police Department launched an investigation into the double homicide. While no arrests have been made in the case, and no specific suspects have been publicly identified, investigators have stated their belief that the murders were gang-related. The case officially remains open, leaving a grieving family and community still waiting for justice for Jamal 'Chicken' Philips and Terrance Barber Jr.
