On an early August evening in New Orleans, 32-year-old Brandon Hayward, known affectionately to friends as 'Phatz,' went to a party at The Island bar in the 3100 block of St. Roch Avenue. What began as a social gathering on August 3, 2024, quickly turned tragic. An altercation broke out, and in the ensuing violence, Hayward was shot. Less than ten minutes after the dispute began, he was pronounced dead.
The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office later confirmed that the cause of death was gunshot-related injuries.
Hayward was remembered by his mother, Charlotte Hayward, as a talented and multifaceted individual. He was a comedian, an animal lover, a visual artist, and a self-taught musician. He also worked as a sous chef for his mother's catering business. To his friends, he was a mentor. His mother expressed her devastation, stating that her son was never involved in violence, making his violent death all the more shocking and painful for his family.
In the days that followed the shooting, New Orleans Police Department Homicide Section detectives launched an investigation. Through their work, they identified Eric Garrison as the primary suspect in Hayward's death. An arrest warrant was issued for Garrison on one count of second-degree murder.
A fugitive investigation was conducted by the NOPD's Violent Offender Warrant Squad in collaboration with the U.S. Marshals. Their efforts led them to Dallas, Texas, where Garrison was located. He was taken into custody and is being held as a fugitive, awaiting extradition to New Orleans to face the murder charge.
