Frederick Magee Jr., a 24-year-old Black man and a U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant, was a dedicated serviceman whose life was brought to a violent end in his home city of New Orleans. His commitment to his country was a source of pride, but his future was stolen in a targeted attack on a Sunday evening.
On November 3, 2024, at around 6:30 p.m., Frederick was on the sidewalk outside a hotel in the 700 block of Tchoupitoulas Street in the city's Warehouse District.
An assailant, who had reportedly been waiting in a black SUV for over 20 minutes for Frederick to arrive, exited the vehicle and approached him. The attacker opened fire with a rifle, shooting Frederick multiple times. Even after Frederick fell to the ground, the shooter continued to fire before getting back into the SUV and fleeing the scene. Emergency medical personnel responded but could not save him; Frederick was pronounced dead from his gunshot wounds.
The New Orleans Police Department's Homicide Section immediately began an investigation. Detectives believed from the start that Frederick was the intended target. At the scene, they recovered 12 spent rifle casings. Surveillance footage proved crucial, capturing the entire ambush and allowing investigators to track the movements of the suspect's vehicle to the West Bank. The SUV, which had been reported stolen, was later found burned to its frame.
Using evidence gathered from surveillance footage and cellular data, investigators identified Jeremiah Williams as the shooter. In December 2024, NOPD officers and the U.S. Marshals located and arrested Williams at a home in neighboring Jefferson Parish. He was initially booked as a fugitive. A co-defendant, Jerroy Holden, was later accused of helping Williams burn the vehicle used in the crime.
After a four-day trial, an Orleans Parish jury returned a unanimous verdict on October 23, 2026. Jeremiah Williams was found guilty as charged of second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Orleans Parish District Attorney noted that Sergeant Magee had served his country and that the verdict delivered a clear message that violent offenders would be held accountable. The case was officially closed with the conviction in October 2026.
