Taiesha Watkins, a 27-year-old mother from Houston, was killed on the night of July 28, 2018, in New Orleans on the 3400 block of South Claiborne Avenue. She was visiting the city for the weekend and became an unintended victim when two gunmen opened fire on a crowd during what investigators say was a targeted attempt to kill Jeremiah Lee, who was allegedly associated with a local street gang. Ten people were shot; three died, including Watkins, Kurshaw Jackson, 38, and Jeremiah Lee, 28, and seven others were injured.

Authorities say the shooters used a rifle and handguns and pursued Lee as he fled, firing indiscriminately. In October 2021 the New Orleans Police Department identified one alleged gunman as Jamal Smith, born April 24, 1989; he was charged with three counts of second-degree murder and seven counts of attempted second-degree murder while already incarcerated on separate federal weapons and drug charges. The second gunman has not been publicly identified, and as of early 2026 there have been no further public announcements about that person or additional prosecutions.

Does anyone have information about the second shooter or recollections of the events on South Claiborne Avenue that night?