Fatal New Orleans neighborhood shooting death of Felicia Cooper – Obituary
A man and woman tragically lost their lives in the early hours of Saturday morning in the Leonidas area, according to the New Orleans Police Department.
The NOPD has disclosed minimal information about the incident, only confirming that the two victims were shot in a residence located on Monroe Street around Oak Street at approximately 6:51 a.m. Both individuals were discovered inside the home and pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the incident, a group of over a dozen people gathered near the crime scene, claiming to be relatives of one of the deceased victims identified as Felicia Cooper. They expressed their belief that the shooting was a case of murder-suicide.
“We received a call around 5 o’clock Saturday morning stating she was initially being held hostage,” stated Jamessia Dillon, who identified herself as Cooper’s cousin.
Family members identified the woman’s husband as Raymond Cooper.
According to relatives present at the scene of the tragic incident on Monroe Street in the Leonidas neighborhood, the victims were identified as Felicia Cooper and her husband Raymond (Photo provided by relatives).
Family members recounted that neighbors began alerting the authorities upon hearing what seemed to be a domestic dispute.
“They probably heard them arguing,” mentioned Chiquita Fleming, another cousin claiming to know Felicia Cooper. “I know her daughter and his stepdaughter were in the house. They kept calling the police. They have the records on their phone. The police called back and asked if they still need them. They never even showed up.
“They didn’t arrive until our aunt and other cousins came, and one of our cousin’s boyfriends broke down the door and found them deceased.”
Relatives showed Fox 8 a screenshot of a neighbor’s call log, demonstrating that calls to 911 had commenced at 6:16 a.m.
“The police have been called several times at this residence,” Fleming disclosed.
The family expressed indignation and dissatisfaction with the NOPD’s response time on Saturday morning.
“It could have possibly been avoided if they had responded the first time they were called,” Fleming asserted.
Dillon added, “They need to implement what they preach and what they announce on the news. They say they are improving in terms of responding to calls, but clearly they are not.”
In a statement issued at 1:29 p.m., the NOPD stated, “Investigators are currently collecting evidence and gathering information to ascertain the person(s) responsible for this incident, as well as the motive. No additional details are available at this time.”
This developing situation will be updated as more information becomes accessible.