On the morning of January 18, 2023, 18-year-old Rickey Smith was fatally shot while riding as a passenger in a car in the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans. The vehicle, carrying Smith, his mother and two siblings, was sprayed with bullets around 11:30 a.m.; the car was left riddled with bullet holes. Smith was taken to a nearby hospital with critical injuries and later died; the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office identified him as 18.

Reports initially gave his age as 19 before the coroner’s confirmation. The New Orleans Police Department opened a homicide investigation, canvassed the area and sought to determine a suspect and motive, but no information about suspects or arrests has been released. The family and community are left mourning while the investigation remains open.

If anyone was in Central City around 11:30 a.m. on January 18 and saw anything relevant, please come forward.