In a heartbreaking turn of events on a Monday night in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, 15-year-old Kenneth Smith Jr. was fatally shot. The incident occurred on June 15, 2025, on St. Maurice Avenue and North Prieur Street. Neighbors in the vicinity reported hearing what seemed to be a gathering of teenagers, followed by a dispute and then the sound of gunfire.
According to his family, Kenneth, a male who was described as respectful and not one to get into trouble, had been at a party
with friends. After the party, the group decided to walk to a neighborhood store. It was during this walk that they were approached by another group of individuals whom they did not know. For reasons that remain unclear, members of the approaching group opened fire, striking Kenneth.
The shooting sent shockwaves through the community and left his family devastated. In the days following his death, family and friends gathered for a vigil at Harold Park to remember the young man and to make a public plea for information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible. They shared memories of a beloved son and friend whose life was cut tragically short.
As of late June 2025, the New Orleans Police Department was investigating the homicide. However, no suspects had been publicly identified or arrested in connection with the shooting. The family and authorities have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward to help bring those responsible for Kenneth Smith Jr.'s death to justice.
