In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Uptown New Orleans, a night out for three young men turned into a scene of violence and loss. Colby Allen Scheffler, a 20-year-old White / Caucasian male, was fatally shot on April 6, 2025, in an incident that unfolded in the 7700 block of Willow Street. A graduate of Chalmette High School and a dedicated member of the Army National Guard, Scheffler was remembered by those who knew him as a charismatic and kind-hearted individual.
He had a bright future, having recently been accepted to Louisiana State University to pursue a degree in engineering.
The tragic events began to unfold around 2:30 AM as Scheffler, his brother Joshua, and a friend were making their way to their car. They were confronted by individuals who pepper-sprayed them and held them at gunpoint in what was described as an attempted robbery for a gun that was in the backseat of the vehicle. In an attempt to flee the dangerous situation, Colby Scheffler, who was driving, stepped on the gas. In the ensuing chaos, gunfire erupted, and the silver sedan he was driving ultimately crashed. When police arrived at the chaotic scene just before 3 a.m., they found Scheffler inside the crashed car with a fatal gunshot wound to the back. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Another individual in the car sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while the third occupant was unharmed.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led law enforcement to two suspects. Authorities arrested 19-year-old Harry Darby of Chalmette and 18-year-old Julian Vicknair of Kenilworth at a residence in Violet, Louisiana. Both men were charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder and were transferred to the Orleans Justice Center. An affidavit revealed that Vicknair admitted to the police that the incident was a robbery. The bonds for Darby and Vicknair were set at $1.5 million each. The untimely death of Colby Allen Scheffler left his family, including his girlfriend Kaylinn Woods, and the community in profound grief, mourning the loss of a young man described as a protector with a joyful soul.
