Joseph Kyle, a 45-year-old African American man from Cottonport, Louisiana, was killed on May 3, 2015, on Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans. At the time he worked as an electrical technician at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and was a U.S. Army veteran.

A suspect, Dontel Kennedy, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in relation to Kyle’s shooting. Investigators linked Kennedy to a broader criminal investigation; DNA evidence reportedly connected him to separate allegations of first-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, and armed robbery involving another victim.

Court filings in the case show legal debate over whether Kennedy’s prior aggravated battery conviction could be used at trial to prove intent. A lower court initially excluded that conviction but a higher court later ruled it admissible for the limited purpose of proving intent and remanded the case for further proceedings.

If anyone knew Joseph Kyle or has information about the incident on Chef Menteur Highway, please share what you know.