Lizzell Palma Dies in Fatal Algiers Shooting
Fatal Algiers shooting death of Lizzell Palma
A tragic shooting occurred in the 1800 block of Jo Ann Place, Algiers. The identity of one male victim involved in the incident has not been released by authorities. However, local station Fox 8 reports that the deceased female victim has been identified as 16-year-old Lizzell Palma.
Walter L. Cohen High School publicly confirmed Lizzell Palma was a junior student and maintained a place on the honor roll. The institution expressed deep sorrow regarding the loss, stating, “The Walter L. Cohen High School community is profoundly impacted by this sudden and tragic loss.” A statement further read, “Our immediate focus is providing essential support to students, personnel, and families as they cope with this terrible event. Mental health resources are being made available through our professionals and community partners like the Children’s Bureau of New Orleans.”
The school also remembered the victim as, “A valued member of the Class of 2027 and an honor roll student. She represented a promising young individual with a future filled with potential and anticipated success in higher education.”
According to the Fourth District of the New Orleans Police Department, officers were dispatched to the location just before 8 a.m. responding to reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered two individuals wounded by gunfire. A witness contacted by Fox 8 news relayed that the man initially shot Lizzell Palma before subsequently turning the weapon on himself. The witness described seeing the suspect loitering around the girl’s house. “I heard her calling for assistance. My immediate reaction was to rush outside and assist,” the witness explained. “Upon reaching the scene, the suspect was preparing to fire. I pleaded with him not to harm her, yet he did. Later, he fired the weapon towards himself.”
The witness confirmed that Lizzell Palma departed her residence with her sister for the school commute. When the witness observed a weapon, she warned her to escape and instructed the suspect to cease his actions.
A nearby resident, Bijan Williams, stated she heard the gunfire while preparing to leave with her son. “I told my son to enter the vehicle, but then I heard a woman’s cries,” Williams reported. “Clearly recognizing the proximity of the incident, I exited my car. My neighbor was already alerting the authorities.”
Williams’ home security camera footage allegedly captured the suspect moving back and forth in front of the house prior to the shooting. She described his demeanor as agitated. “He was walking back and forth around 7 a.m.,” Williams detailed. “He remained still for a time, then departed around 7:38 a.m. Shortly after, the shots were heard.”
New Orleans police confirmed Lizzell Palma did not survive the incident. The male suspect, however, was transported to a hospital where medical examiners pronounced him deceased. Law enforcement officials expressed no concerns about an active threat to the general public. The investigation is ongoing as detectives pursue leads to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
