Darron Wayne Meilleur, a 19-year-old Black male, was tragically killed on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His life was cut short by an act of gun violence, a fact later confirmed by the local coroner's office. The incident that led to his death occurred in the 8700 block of Almonaster Avenue, a detail that would become central to the subsequent police investigation.
In the weeks following the shooting, the New Orleans Police Department's Violent Offender Warrant
Squad, in collaboration with the U.S. Marshals, diligently pursued leads in the case. Their efforts culminated on May 10, 2023, with the apprehension of two suspects. Chante Mark, a then 23-year-old Black female, and Brandon Ferdinand, a then 18-year-old Black male, were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Meilleur.
Following their arrest, both Mark and Ferdinand were booked on charges of second-degree murder. They were subsequently transported to the Orleans Justice Center to await legal proceedings. The arrests brought a measure of progress in a case that had left a family and community mourning the loss of a young man.
