In the late spring of 2009, a visit home to New Orleans turned tragic for a young Black/African American man. Chester Joseph "Tootie" Reeder III, a 25-year-old male native of New Orleans who was residing in Houston, Texas, was back in his hometown visiting family. On the evening of May 24, 2009, in the 1400 block of Ptolemy Street in the Algiers neighborhood, an argument broke out. Reeder was involved in a verbal altercation with two unidentified men.
The dispute escalated with shocking suddenness, ending when the suspects shot Reeder.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, and Reeder was transported to a local hospital. For two days, he fought for his life, but his injuries proved too severe. On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, Chester Reeder succumbed to the gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead. His death left his family, including his mother, father, and sister, to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of their loved one.
In the aftermath, the New Orleans Police Department launched a homicide investigation. Authorities identified two men as suspects in connection with the fatal shooting that stemmed from the verbal dispute. Despite their efforts and identifying persons of interest, the suspects have remained at large, and the case remains open. A reward of up to $4,000 was offered for any information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Reeder's murder. The family, in their time of grief, requested that any monetary donations be sent to Crimestoppers to aid in the search for justice. The community continues to remember Chester Reeder as they await a resolution to his unsolved case.
