In the early morning hours of September 28, 2025, the life of 23-year-old Joshua Bester was tragically cut short in New Orleans. Officers from the New Orleans Police Department's Eighth District responded to a call of shots fired in the 300 block of Loyola Avenue at approximately 12:22 a.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency services transported him to a local hospital, but he was later pronounced deceased.
The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office formally identified the victim as Joshua Bester on October 1 and determined that his death was the result of gunshot-related injuries. A United States Navy veteran, Joshua was survived by his wife, parents, and numerous siblings and other family members.
As the New Orleans Police Department's Homicide Section delved into the investigation, they were able to identify a suspect in the fatal shooting. Detectives positively identified William French, a Black male from Memphis, Tennessee, as the alleged perpetrator. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for French, charging him with one count of second-degree murder. The investigation led authorities to Harris County, Texas, where French was apprehended on October 13. He was then transported back to Orleans Parish on October 22 to face the murder charge. The investigation into the death of Joshua Bester remains ongoing, and authorities have encouraged anyone with additional information to come forward.
