8-year-old boy killed in New Orleans shooting

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - An 8-year-old boy lost his life Wednesday morning after he was shot in the stomach, according to New Orleans police.

As his family and neighbors grieve the day before Thanksgiving, police try to figure out how the child was shot.

The NOPD says the shooting happened around 11 a.m. in the 3200 block of Second Street in the Hoffman Triangle area of New Orleans.

Police say they didn’t get any calls of gunshots, but they did get an 8-year-old being shot in his stomach. The boy was identified as Neon Arnold.

New Orleans EMS says Arnold was taken to a hospital, where he died.

In a press conference just before 1 p.m., NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said it is unknown if the shooting was accidental, self-inflicted, or intentional. He said several people from inside the house were detained for questioning.

“It’s a child. It’s an 8-year-old boy, who will not get the opportunity to see another Christmas and will not get the opportunity to be a man. And so it’s, I’m sure, it’s the anguish that’s in the community, the devastation that’s in that community. It’s awful,” said Ameer Baraka, actor, anti-crime activist and mentor.

He says he was shaken this morning hearing reports from around the country of devastating gun violence, but what happened to Neon Arnold inside of a home near the intersection of South Roman and 2nd Street has him and others like Superintendent Shaun Ferguson completely crestfallen.

Ferguson says police are also looking into reports the shot may have come from a neighboring residence, but he says there are too many unanswered questions at the moment to tell.

If anyone has any information that may help detectives, they are asked to call Crimestoppers.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with funeral arrangements.

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