On the evening of January 16, 2026, a tragic and violent event unfolded in New Orleans, resulting in the death of 19-year-old Kareem Harris. Harris, a recent graduate of Livingston Collegiate Academy, was being pursued by an armed individual. In a desperate attempt to find safety, he ran into the foyer of the renowned Dooky Chase's Restaurant on Orleans Avenue.
The gunman followed Harris into the restaurant's entrance and opened fire, fatally wounding the teenager.
The brazen attack also resulted in three other individuals, who were patrons waiting in the foyer, being struck by gunfire. Two of these bystanders were hospitalized in critical condition. The incident, which was captured on video, caused the historic restaurant to close for the weekend as the community grappled with the shocking violence.
Family and friends of Harris gathered for a balloon release in his memory, remembering him as a "good kid" with a joking personality. They shared that his favorite color was green, the color of the balloons that filled the sky in his honor. His family stated that he had briefly worked at the very restaurant where his life was tragically cut short.
The New Orleans Police Department has characterized the shooting as a targeted attack on Kareem Harris. While investigators have questioned several people and canvassed the neighborhood where Harris's family lives, no official arrests have been made in the case. Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or a motive for the shooting, though they believe it may have been a retaliatory act. A significant reward has been offered for any information that leads to an arrest.
