Karell Portis

Karell Portis, a hardworking and courageous 28-year-old Black man known to friends by the nickname "Pooh," is remembered for his funny and loving nature. A graduate of George W. Carver High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was a father to one child. His life was a valued part of his community, but it was violently ended in the early weeks of 2022, leaving his loved ones with unanswered questions.

On the night of Thursday, February 3, 2022, at approximately 8:36 p.m., officers from the New Orleans Police Department responded to a call in New Orleans East. They arrived to a scene in the 6700 block of Chef Menteur Highway, a busy commercial corridor, where they discovered Karell Portis suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services were dispatched, and Portis was rushed to a local hospital for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office later officially identified him as a victim of homicide.

The investigation into Portis's death was launched by the New Orleans Police Department. In the immediate aftermath, police did not name a suspect or release a potential motive for the shooting. The area where Portis was found is a major thoroughfare in the eastern part of the city, lined with businesses and heavy traffic, yet few public details emerged about the circumstances that led to the gunfire that evening.

A few days after the shooting, on February 8, 2022, the NOPD made a public appeal for assistance in the case. Investigators announced they were seeking a "person of interest" for questioning. They identified her as Dolores Simmons, who also used the name Delores Lawrence. Police released a photograph of Simmons and stated they believed she might have crucial information about the homicide. They clarified that she was not wanted on any charges at that time but was being sought solely for an interview. There have been no subsequent public updates on whether investigators ever located or spoke with Simmons, or what information, if any, she provided.

The killing of Karell Portis was part of a significant and troubling spike in violence in the city. At the time of his death, New Orleans had already seen 27 homicides in the first five weeks of the year. According to the Metropolitan Crime Commission, this represented a 50 percent increase compared to the same period in 2021 and a staggering 125 percent jump from the same point in 2019, reflecting a wave of violence that was deeply concerning to residents and city officials alike.

Years have passed since Karell Portis was killed, and his case remains unsolved. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly named in connection with his murder. His family and friends continue to await a breakthrough that might bring justice for his death. The investigation remains open with the New Orleans Police Department. Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the homicide of Karell Portis to contact NOPD Homicide detectives or to report tips anonymously to Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans.