New Orleans, La. -
Neighbors gather on a rainy morning in the 9th Ward to witness the aftermath of a double murder.
One man, 24-year-old Kendrick Williams, died inside a GMC SUV near the corner of Feliciana and North Prieur Streets. The other man, 40-year-old Sheldon Stewart, died a short while later at the hospital. Both had been shot in the head.
Stewart, who moved to Atlanta after Katrina, was shot in front of his home, where he stopped in for a visit.
"He came down for Essence [Music Festival], this his neighborhood, growed up in" said neighbor Barbara White.
While neighbors expressed dismay, police with dogs detained a man for questioning about three blocks away. Police say the person of interest was carried away in an ambulance, as a matter of course, after the dog captured him.
"NOPD detectives are questioning someone in relation to the double murder that happened this morning in the 1900 block of Feliciana Street," reads a brief statement from NOPD spokeswoman Remi Braden. "He is not under arrest for the shooting -- he's just being questioned at this time."
Criminal justice experts are troubled by a recent spike in murders.
"In the second quarter I counted 51; now we increased 12 percent from the first quarter to the second quarter," said Tulane criminologist Peter Scharf. "Now, the third quarter, is off to the races, nine in nine days. It's just insane."
New Orleans police are looking for more suspects, and a possible motive.
Homicide detective Christopher Harris is in charge of the investigation and can be reached at 658-5300. You can also dial Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 and leave your tips anonymously.
AP
