In a tragic turn of events on a Tuesday afternoon in New Orleans, a dispute between neighbors culminated in the shooting death of Ferdinand Alfred Alexander, a 51-year-old man, on January 24, 2023. The incident, which took place in the 4500 block of Perlita Street, cut short the life of a man known affectionately to his friends and family as 'Goon' or 'Ferd.'
On that fateful day, at approximately 2:01 p.m., officers from the New Orleans Police Department's Third District responded to a
call of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Alexander suffering from a gunshot wound. He was immediately transported to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced deceased. The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office later confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound.
The investigation into the homicide quickly pointed to Alexander's neighbor, Tracey Wright, as the perpetrator. According to the New Orleans Police Department, the two men were involved in a confrontation that escalated to the point of Wright shooting Alexander. Wright was not at the scene when police arrived. However, through their investigation, NOPD Homicide Unit detectives identified him as the suspect and obtained an arrest warrant. On February 3, 2023, the NOPD's Violent Offender Warrant Squad and U.S. Marshals located and arrested Wright at a residence in the Fifth District.
Following his arrest, Tracey Wright was charged with one count of second-degree murder. On May 18, 2023, a grand jury indicted him on charges of second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The case proceeded to a jury trial on February 27, 2024. During the trial, it was revealed that the dispute may have stemmed from a disagreement over $200 that Wright had given Alexander for a car repair. Evidence presented included messages sent by Wright to Alexander a month prior to the shooting, in which he threatened violence. While a knife was found among Alexander's possessions, testimony suggested that the gun was fired from a distance of more than two feet.
The jury unanimously found Tracey Wright guilty on all counts. On March 22, 2024, after his motions for a new trial and to set aside the verdict were denied, a judge sentenced him to life in prison. Wright has since appealed his conviction.
