18 year old shot and killed in drive by shooting Steve G. Brackens III, an 18-year-old with his future ahead of him, was a recent high school graduate who was deeply rooted in his New Orleans community. A member of the L.B. Landry High School Class of 2014, Steve had celebrated his graduation just ten months before his life was tragically cut short. Born on June 7, 1996, he was the beloved son of Patrice Williams and Steve Brackens, Jr., and the stepson of Hardy Elzy, Sr. He was part of a large, close-knit family, growing up alongside his siblings Trinity Williams, Stacey and Stephanie Brackens, Haley Robinson, and his stepbrothers Hardy Jr., Hakeem, Hasaan, and Henri' Elzy. As a son, brother, grandson, and godson, Steve was cherished by a wide circle of relatives and friends who were left to mourn the sudden and violent loss of a young man just beginning his adult life.
The evening of Monday, March 16, 2015, was clear in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans.
At approximately 8:45 p.m., Steve was standing outside a home on the 1200 block of Sumner Street, socializing with two other males, aged 18 and 70. The residential street, a mix of single-family homes and duplexes, was shattered by sudden violence when a dark-colored SUV approached the group. An occupant inside the vehicle opened fire, striking Steve twice. The SUV then sped away from the scene, leaving chaos in its wake. Emergency medical services were dispatched to the location and rushed Steve to University Medical Center, but the gunshot wounds proved to be fatal. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital, his life ending before he had the chance to fully realize his potential. It has not been publicly reported whether the two men with him sustained any injuries in the ambush.
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) launched a homicide investigation into the fatal drive-by shooting. Detectives from the department’s homicide unit were assigned to the case, canvassing the Algiers neighborhood for witnesses and searching for any surveillance footage that might have captured the dark-colored SUV or its occupants. The initial investigation focused on gathering evidence from the scene on Sumner Street and piecing together the events that led to the shooting. However, the case quickly grew cold. Despite the presence of two other individuals with Steve at the time of the attack, police have not publicly released a description of the shooter or any further details about the suspect vehicle.
In the years since Steve Brackens III was killed, his case has remained open and unsolved. No arrests have ever been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified by the NOPD. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, leaving his family and community without answers or justice. The city of New Orleans recorded 165 homicides in 2015, a 10 percent increase from the previous year, and Steve's death was a painful part of that statistic. His case is now listed among the city's many unsolved murders, a reminder of a life taken too soon and a family left waiting for a breakthrough.
Family and friends gathered to say their final goodbyes to Steve on Saturday, March 28, 2015. A funeral service was held at the Greater Morning Star Baptist Church on Valette Street in Algiers, a place of comfort for a grieving community. He was later laid to rest at Holt Cemetery. The online guestbook for his obituary filled with messages of sorrow and support for his family, with friends and community members expressing their heartbreak over the loss of a young life.
As of the latest available information, the investigation into the murder of Steve G. Brackens III is still active but without any significant leads. Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans continues to feature the case, offering a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to the arrest of the person or persons responsible. That reward can increase to $5,000 upon indictment. Authorities urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward and help bring closure to Steve's loved ones. Callers can remain anonymous. 
