In the early morning hours of August 10, 2024, Andre K. Preston, a 26-year-old male, was in the French Quarter of New Orleans, just hours away from celebrating his 27th birthday. He was near the intersection of St. Louis and Bourbon streets when gunfire erupted around 3:55 a.m. First responders found Preston with a gunshot wound and transported him to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office later confirmed the cause of death was from gunshot-related injuries. His mother described him as a hardworking man and the life of the party who was simply out to enjoy his birthday weekend. She believes he was an innocent bystander caught in the violence.
The New Orleans Police Department investigated the homicide and quickly identified a suspect. Through their investigation, detectives positively identified 17-year-old Jakoz King as the alleged perpetrator. An arrest warrant was issued for King on a charge of second-degree murder. On August 12, just two days after the fatal shooting, King was located and taken into custody in the neighboring St. John the Baptist Parish.
Following his arrest, Jakoz King was held as a fugitive in St. John the Baptist Parish. He was subsequently charged with second-degree murder in connection with Andre Preston's death. A judge set King's bond at $1 million. This tragic incident marked another painful loss for Preston's mother, who had previously lost her youngest son to gun violence in 2021. The investigation into the motive for the shooting is ongoing.
