On the evening of September 26, 2025, Damien Kendrick, a 42-year-old Black/African American male, was fatally shot in the Seventh Ward of New Orleans. The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. in the 1500 block of North Claiborne Avenue, a typically busy area. An argument that began inside a local business escalated and moved outside, culminating in gunfire. Kendrick was struck by at least one bullet.
He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
In the days following the shooting, the Orleans Parish Coroner's Office formally identified the victim as Damien Kendrick. As the community began to mourn his loss, investigators treated the case as a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence. Their investigation pointed to a dispute that had turned deadly.
Detectives identified Aaron Christopher Bierria, 42, as the individual who allegedly shot Kendrick. According to the authorities, during the course of an argument, Bierria is accused of drawing a weapon and firing a single shot that struck and killed Damien Kendrick. On Friday, October 10, U.S. Marshals located and apprehended Bierria in Westwego. He is facing a charge of second-degree murder and was expected to be extradited to New Orleans to be booked into the Orleans Justice Center. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue to gather evidence and witness statements to build a complete picture of the events that led to Kendrick's death.
