New Orleans Teen Michael Taylor’s Death Among Rash of Homicides
The shooting death of a New Orleans teen that was infamously spanked by his uncle in a viral video is apparently one of a string of recent homicides in the city’s West Bank of Jefferson Parish, and sadly, police seem to be no closer to putting the believed assailants behind bars.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said that in the last week there have been two other homicides, one in Terrytown — the same neighborhood where 16-year-old Michael Taylor was gunned down on Dec. 7 — and a second in the neighborhood of Harvey. In all three of the shootings, no suspects or motives have been identified, police say.
The most recent shooting involved Timothy Lemon, 24, who was found dead in a Terrytown driveway shortly after 2 a.m. on Dec. 11. The day before, police found Flozell Phillips, 24, shot in the neighborhood of Harvey. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.
In addition to the homicides, authorities have investigated three non-fatal shootings in the past week, one in Terrytown, and the others in the Avondale and Marrero neighborhoods. In all six shootings, including Taylor’s, all of the victims were men.
Like Taylor’s mother, Kimberly Ward, James Lemon Sr., the father of Timothy Lemon, said his son wasn’t involved in any ongoing “beefs.” As the family grieves, he says they just want answers.
"We don't know why. That's all we want to know," Lemon toldThe Times-Picayune
According to Sgt. Larry Dyess, a Sheriff's Office spokesman, officials don't believe at this time that any of the homicides are connected.
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