Joshua Bester, 23, was shot in the early morning hours of September 28, 2025, in the 300 block of Loyola Avenue in New Orleans. New Orleans Police Department Eighth District officers responded to a shots-fired call at about 12:22 a.m.; emergency responders took the male victim to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Orleans Parish Coroner identified him as Joshua Bester on October 1 and listed the cause of death as gunshot-related injuries. Bester was a United States Navy veteran and is survived by his wife, parents and multiple siblings and other family members.

The NOPD Homicide Section identified an alleged suspect, William French, a Black male from Memphis, Tennessee, and sought him on a warrant charging one count of second-degree murder. French was located in Harris County, Texas, and was arrested on October 13; he was returned to Orleans Parish on October 22 to face the charge. The investigation into Bester’s death is ongoing.

If anyone has information about what happened that night or saw activity in the 300 block of Loyola Avenue around 12:22 a.m. on September 28, please share what you know.