Marvin Enrique Bardales Valle was a 32-year-old Hispanic man from Honduras who had come to the United States in search of the American dream. Remembered by loved ones for his love, humor, and talent for playing the guitar, he worked in construction during the day and drove for Lyft at night to earn extra money, much of which he sent back home to his mother. He was her only son.
In the early morning hours of March 8, 2023, Mr.
Bardales Valle was working a shift for the ridesharing company in New Orleans, Louisiana. Just after 2:00 a.m., he was shot and killed near an apartment complex on Morrison Road. Police stated that his passenger was the person who fatally shot him.
The New Orleans Police Department used data obtained from the ridesharing app to track down a suspect. On March 14, investigators arrested 19-year-old Tarius Tully in connection with the killing. Some reports also identified the suspect by the name Taurus Tilly.
Tully was charged with second-degree murder. While police did not release details about a motive, Mr. Bardales Valle’s cousin, Isaac Bardales Lopez, told reporters about the family’s belief. “We believe he was forced to drive at gun point to his location and that’s where he was shot and killed,” he said.
In the wake of his death, Mr. Bardales Valle’s family was faced with the challenge of repatriating his body to Honduras for a proper burial. His cousin launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of a small funeral in New Orleans and transportation to his home country. The community responded with an outpouring of support, and by late March, the fundraiser had surpassed its goal. As of March 2023, Tarius Tully had been charged and the case was proceeding through the legal system.
