Benjamin Davell Locure Sr., known affectionately to friends and family as “Beezo” or “Bee,” was a 31-year-old father and a 2014 graduate of McDonogh 35 Senior High School in New Orleans. Born on November 21, 1994, he was a beloved figure in his community. His life revolved around his family, which included his children, Benji Johnson and Benjamin Locure Jr., and two bonus sons, Kiyan Scott and Derry Jones. He is deeply missed by his parents, Tony Locure Sr.
and Hyacinth Brown, his companion, Kayla Alexis, and a large family of brothers, sisters, nieces, and a nephew who remember his presence in their lives.
In the first minutes of Monday, September 21, 2026, violence shattered the night in the Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans. At approximately 12:17 a.m., officers from the New Orleans Police Department responded to reports of a shooting in the 4000 block of Tulane Avenue. When they arrived, they found Benjamin Locure suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Emergency medical services transported him to a local hospital for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Two women were also wounded in the incident. They were taken to a hospital by a private vehicle for treatment of their injuries. The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office later confirmed that Benjamin Locure died from a gunshot wound, officially ruling his death a homicide. The conditions of the two women were not publicly released. The shooting added to the landscape of a city grappling with gun violence, on a commercial corridor that has seen other violent incidents in the past.
The investigation into the triple shooting was handled by New Orleans Police Department homicide detectives. Investigators worked to gather evidence and identify a person responsible for the deadly attack. Their efforts led them to identify a suspect, and they secured an arrest warrant. The case did not remain unsolved for long, as the department moved swiftly to apprehend the person they believed was responsible for the shooting on Tulane Avenue.
Just four days after the shooting, on September 25, 2026, authorities announced a significant development in the case. A 23-year-old man, Latrell Alexis, was arrested in connection with the homicide. The arrest was a collaborative effort involving the New Orleans Police Department's Violent Offender Warrant Squad, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Gretna Police Department. Alexis was taken into custody at a residence in the 900 block of 24th Street in Gretna, a city in neighboring Jefferson Parish.
Latrell Alexis was booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, awaiting extradition to New Orleans to face serious charges. The charges filed against him include one count of second-degree murder for the death of Benjamin Locure, attempted second-degree murder related to the two women who were injured, and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As of late September 2026, the case against Alexis is proceeding through the court system.
In the wake of his death, Benjamin's family and friends gathered to celebrate his life and mourn their loss. A visitation and funeral service were held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Gentilly Baptist Church on Franklin Avenue. He was laid to rest at Providence Memorial Park in Metairie. The outpouring of love and support for his family demonstrated the deep impact Benjamin had on those who knew him. The case is now in the litigation phase as the legal process against the accused moves forward.
