In a heartbreaking turn of events, 9-year-old Leelani Brooks, a vibrant and caring young girl from New Orleans, Louisiana, lost her life in May 2025. On the afternoon of May 12, 2025, Leelani was playing outside her home on Lawrence Street when a shootout erupted between several men. In a selfless act, she rushed to bring her younger siblings to safety indoors.
Tragically, as she and her mother fled inside their home, a stray bullet pierced through the house and struck Leelani in the head.
Emergency services rushed the young girl to a nearby hospital, where she was placed on life support. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, her injuries were too severe, and she was declared brain dead. After four days of clinging to life, her family made the devastating decision to remove her from life support, and she passed away on Friday, May 16, 2025, at the University Medical Center. Her family, friends, and neighbors remember her as a sweet and fun-loving child with an infectious personality and a smile that could light up any room. She was a student at Dorothy Height Charter School and was described by her mother as the backbone of their family, always protective of her younger siblings.
In the wake of the tragic shooting, law enforcement launched an immediate investigation. U.S. Marshals and the New Orleans Police Department apprehended 19-year-old Evans Rogers in connection with the shooting. Rogers was arrested at a La Quinta Inn following a standoff. Initially facing other charges, his charges were upgraded to murder following Leelani's death. Authorities stated that Rogers and another man had opened fire on a group of three other men, who returned fire, leading to the crossfire that claimed Leelani's life. Reports also indicated that a second suspect was later taken into custody, and police were seeking another individual for questioning in relation to the incident.
