A late‑afternoon shooting in New Orleans East claimed the life of 17‑year‑old Harlem Virgil on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Police were called about 4:00 p.m. to a park near the 8500 block of Fordham Court in the Little Woods neighborhood and found Virgil with at least one gunshot wound; emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office identified him after an autopsy and family notification. Harlem, also spelled Harlym, was a student at N.O.

Science and Mathematics High School and had been on the honor roll while holding various leadership roles. The New Orleans Police Department quickly developed a person of interest and detained an 18‑year‑old male, later identified as Megill Harris. Detectives say they positively identified Harris as the shooter; an arrest warrant was issued and he was taken into custody and booked on second‑degree murder. Authorities have not released a motive and the investigation remains ongoing.

If anyone has information about the shooting or knew Harlem, please contact homicide detectives.