Nine-year-old Leelani Brooks of New Orleans was struck by a stray bullet during a shootout on the afternoon of May 12, 2025, while playing outside her home on Lawrence Street. She was taken to the University Medical Center, placed on life support, and died after life support was withdrawn on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Leelani was a student at Dorothy Height Charter School and is remembered by her family as protective of her younger siblings and full of personality. Law enforcement opened an investigation immediately. U.S. Marshals and the New Orleans Police Department arrested 19-year-old Evans Rogers at a La Quinta Inn after a standoff; his charges were upgraded to murder following Leelani’s death. Reports say Rogers and another man had fired on three other men who returned fire, producing the crossfire that struck Leelani. A second suspect was later taken into custody and police were seeking another person for questioning.

If anyone witnessed the shooting on Lawrence Street or has information about the people involved, please come forward to assist the investigation.