Javonte Antointe Lawrence was just five days away from his nineteenth birthday when his life was cut short by gunfire in the spring of 2015. Born on May 18, 1996, the 18-year-old Black male was the son of Patrice Monique Lawrence and Dion Dupron. He was a beloved grandson to Hilda and Larry Lawrence, Sr. and his paternal grandparents. Javonte was also a brother to Destiny, Precious, Joshua, Arthur, and Jeremiah Lawrence, and Joseph Roberts, and was part of a large, extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins who remember him.
The afternoon of Wednesday, May 13, 2015, was warm and partly cloudy in New Orleans. In the Gentilly neighborhood, a historically diverse area known for its mix of 20th-century bungalows and ranch-style homes, life was proceeding as usual. The neighborhood, which sits on a ridge of higher ground, is a residential area with wide lawns and old trees, home to families, retirees, and students from nearby Dillard University.
But that afternoon, the calm was shattered by violence. At approximately 3:30 p.m., shots rang out in the 4900 block of Painters Street, a quiet residential street lined with single-family homes.
When officers from the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) arrived at the scene, they discovered two young men who had been shot. Inside the driver's seat of a car, they found Javonte Lawrence. He had sustained a gunshot wound to his head. Emergency medical services were dispatched to the location, but Javonte’s injury was catastrophic. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Orleans Parish Coroner’s office. A second victim, a 20-year-old male whose name was not released, was found nearby with a gunshot wound to his leg. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and survived his injuries.
The investigation into the double shooting was immediately taken over by NOPD Homicide Division detectives. They cordoned off the block on Painters Street, canvassing the area for potential witnesses and searching for physical evidence that might lead to a suspect. Detectives worked to piece together the sequence of events that led to the shooting, but authorities did not release a description of any potential suspects or a possible motive for the attack. The initial investigation did not yield any immediate arrests, and the case joined the city's growing list of unsolved homicides for that year.
In the days following the tragedy, Javonte's family prepared to say their final goodbyes. A visitation was held on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at Gertrude Geddes Willis Funeral Home on Jackson Avenue, followed by a funeral service. He was later laid to rest at Resthaven Memorial Park. The loss was deeply felt by his relatives and friends, who were left with only memories and the profound question of why his life had ended so violently and so soon.
As of May 2024, the murder of Javonte Lawrence remains unsolved. The New Orleans Police Department has not publicly named any persons of interest or made any arrests in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing, but years have passed without a resolution, leaving his family waiting for justice. There is a standard reward offered by Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for a homicide. Authorities urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously to NOPD Homicide detectives or to Crimestoppers.
