A late-March fight in New Orleans’ Pines Village neighborhood ended in a fatal shooting that left 38-year-old Willie Lucas dead. The altercation occurred in the early morning of Saturday, March 29, 2024, in the 6000 block of Chef Menteur Highway. During the struggle between Lucas and another man, a woman intervened and produced a firearm; police say she shot Lucas. Both the man who had been fighting Lucas and the woman fled the scene before help arrived.

Paramedics transported Lucas to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Orleans Parish Coroner identified the cause of death as a gunshot wound and ruled the death a homicide. The New Orleans Police Department continues to investigate; no suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests have been announced. The motive and what sparked the initial altercation remain unanswered. If anyone witnessed the shooting or has information about the people who fled, please share what is known with investigators.