Courtney Hughes

An aspiring nurse's life was tragically cut short in the early morning hours of December 26, 2022, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Courtney Hughes, a 19-year-old African American female, was fatally shot while attending a party at a short-term rental property. A freshman nursing student at Southern University, she was home visiting her family for the Christmas holiday. Family said she had spent Christmas Eve with them and attended a Christmas brunch before going to the party in the city's Lower Ninth Ward.

The gathering on St. Maurice Avenue was filled with young people when gunfire suddenly erupted shortly after 12:30 a.m., causing chaos and panic. When the shooting ceased, Hughes and another 19-year-old, Kyron Peters, were dead. Four other teenagers at the party sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital. The incident sent shockwaves through the community, leaving friends and family to mourn the senseless loss of two young lives on the day after Christmas.

Family and friends remembered Hughes, a graduate of Edna Karr High School, as a "beautiful soul" with a great spirit, who was outgoing and known for her kindness. In the days following the shooting, her loved ones held a balloon release and a second line to honor her memory. Her younger sister, who was at the party, later said, "My heart is forever broken."

The New Orleans Police Department launched an intensive investigation into the double homicide. Investigators recovered casings from multiple firearms at the scene and used surveillance footage, social media evidence, and anonymous tips from Crimestoppers to identify a suspect. On January 10, 2023, police arrested 19-year-old Elijah Williams in connection with the shooting. He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Courtney Hughes and Kyron Peters, as well as four counts of attempted second-degree murder.

On May 8, 2026, Elijah Williams pleaded guilty to amended charges of two counts of manslaughter, four counts of attempted second-degree murder, and one count of obstruction of justice. Later that month, a judge sentenced the 22-year-old to 30 years in prison, with the sentences to run concurrently. During an emotional hearing, family members of both victims spoke about their loss. "Two people lost their lives, several others suffered life-altering injuries, and multiple families have spent years carrying unimaginable grief," said Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams. The case was closed following the sentencing in May 2026.