Zelda Townsend was 63 when she was fatally shot in the head on May 8, 2019, in New Orleans’ Mid-City neighborhood. The shooting occurred after a car alarm alerted Zelda and her husband, Danny Townsend, to a car burglary outside their Cleveland Street home. Confronting the suspects led to an exchange of gunfire; Danny was wounded in the arm and survived, while Zelda died at the scene. The perpetrators fled.

Police say the incident was part of a planned series of car burglaries. Investigators arrested three teenagers in connection with the case: 17-year-old Emanuel Pipkins, 18-year-old Byrielle Hebert, and 16-year-old Alvin Robinson. A special grand jury in Orleans Parish later indicted all three on first-degree murder charges and on attempted first-degree murder for the injury to Danny. Authorities alleged Pipkins fired the fatal shots and that the others aided and encouraged the crime. Investigators also tied the same gun to a similar car-burglary shooting the night before in Lakeview.

A judge later reduced bond for Byrielle Hebert in February 2022, a decision the District Attorney said it would appeal. If anyone knew Zelda or has information about the events that night, please share what might help the investigation.