Sylvester Jenkins, 23, was shot and killed on the evening of August 1, 2026, in the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans. The New Orleans Police Department says the shooting happened around 9:58 p.m. in the 2900 block of Freret Street; officers and paramedics found Jenkins with a gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office gave a preliminary cause of death as a gunshot wound.

NOPD opened a homicide investigation but did not immediately release details about a motive or any suspects. In the days after the killing the coroner publicly identified Jenkins and authorities appealed to the public for information that could lead to an arrest. As of early August 2026, no arrests had been announced and the investigation remains ongoing.

If anyone has information about what happened on Freret Street that night or knew Sylvester Jenkins, please contact NOPD Homicide detectives or Crimestoppers.