In what began as a physical altercation believed to have been arranged on social media, 25-year-old Brittany Alexis Ussin, a female native of New Orleans and resident of Terrytown, LA, lost her life on Monday, April 22, 2024. The fatal incident unfolded in the Algiers neighborhood near McDonough Playground, where a fight among a group of women escalated to gunfire. Ussin was struck by a bullet and subsequently transported to a hospital by EMS, where she succumbed to her injuries.
She was a mother to six young children: Raheem, Dream, Jaheem, Janae, and Serenity Ussin.
The events leading to Ussin's tragic death were reportedly captured on video and circulated widely on social media platforms. These videos show a large brawl erupting, and one video is said to show a woman with a gun approaching the crowd. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing a single gunshot. The fight, according to Ussin's family, had been premeditated and planned on social media. Family members described Ussin as a loving mother who was full of life and loved her siblings unconditionally. They expressed their profound grief and shock, with her aunt stating that they were relieved when an arrest was made swiftly.
In connection with the shooting death of Brittany Ussin, the New Orleans Police Department arrested 32-year-old Nayiondra Woolridge. Woolridge was taken into custody on the Wednesday following the incident and was booked into jail on one count of second-degree murder. Additionally, she faces two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and one count of simple battery. While one arrest has been made, police have indicated that other suspects may still be at large as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ussin's death continues. The family held a balloon release in her memory at the playground where she was killed, calling for an end to gun violence and for the community to come together.
