In the late afternoon of February 15, 2026, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of a New Orleans neighborhood, leaving a 37-year-old man, Ricky Smith Jr., dead and three others wounded. The male victim's life was cut short in a quadruple shooting that unfolded in the 13500 block of Granville Street.
Officers from the New Orleans Police Department responded to a call of a shooting in the Seventh District at approximately 5:46 p.m.
Upon their arrival, they discovered evidence of a violent encounter, but the victims were nowhere in sight. Shortly thereafter, the police were notified that four individuals suffering from gunshot wounds had been transported to two different hospitals by private vehicles. Three of the victims, including Smith, were taken to one hospital, while the fourth was admitted to another.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Ricky Smith Jr. succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The incident was then officially classified as a homicide, prompting an intensive investigation by the New Orleans Police Department's Homicide Section.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, investigators began the process of gathering evidence and searching for a motive behind the deadly assault. As of late February 2026, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Ricky Smith Jr., and the police have not publicly identified any suspects. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities appeal to the public for any information that might lead to the apprehension of those responsible for this act of violence. The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office is tasked with officially determining the cause of death.
