In the late hours of a Sunday evening in New Orleans, on August 30, 2009, Philip Chacko, a male hotelier, was fatally shot. The violent encounter occurred at approximately 9:40 p.m. inside the Midtown Hotel, an establishment he owned in the 3900 block of Tulane Avenue. Two individuals reportedly entered the hotel and shot Chacko. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
Philip Chacko had moved to New Orleans in 2007, becoming an active
participant in the city's revival following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He had purchased and was in the process of renovating the Midtown Hotel, which had been significantly damaged by floodwaters. Chacko was known in the community for his generosity, having worked with local charities to provide shelter for the homeless population. He also offered space within his hotel for displaced church congregations to hold their services. He was a husband and a father.
Following the shooting, the New Orleans Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Despite appeals to the public for information, the case grew cold. In the months that followed the incident, no clear leads on the perpetrators were established, and no arrests have been publicly announced in connection with the murder of Philip Chacko. The individuals responsible for his death remain at large.
