NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — 53-year-old Darriel King is dead after a shooting in Mid-City, according to the New Orleans Police Department.
Officers said around 11:11 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, they responded to a call of a shooting in the 100 block of North Carrollton Avenue.
Upon arrival, NOPD officers said they found King suffering from a gunshot wound on the scene.
An investigation revealed the victim was working at the location when a fight happened between him and the suspect. Officers said during the altercation, the suspect reportedly pulled out a gun and shot him in his chest.
He was taken to a hospital by EMS, where he died.
The crime was then reclassified as a homicide. NOPD officers are in the process of gathering evidence and information to determine a possible suspect and motive.
On Monday, family members gathered, sharing stories and reminiscing about the good times shared with King.
“For somebody to just shoot my child, to think that it’s all right to be executioner, to try to do god’s business; that hurts. That hurts,” King’s mother, Carroll Murray Turner, said.
King’s family says he was known as a beloved family man, being a father of five daughters, as well as a grandfather. They say outside of his work as a security guard, he also worked within the community, looking to better the city of New Orleans any way he could.
“He had worked previously with the New Orleans Police Department in terms of the unhoused population. He’d also worked with some other health organizations, and he’d also worked and volunteered for persons who had different needs. I mean really at this point he just kept trying to find positive things to do in the city,” Brian Turner said.
Of everything about him, King’s mother says his personality was what shined the most, always being the person to brighten up a room.
“People were most scared of him because of his size; but at heart, Darriel was nothing but a big ol’ 53-year-old baby to me. He was just like a baby. He wanted to be babied, you know? Just good-hearted,” Carroll Turner said.
She says as she tries to navigate this difficult time, the support of her friends, family and God will get her through.
“Whatever reason this happened in our family, god has a plan. We don’t know what his plan is and we don’t know what the outcome may be, but hopefully hopefully somebody gets something out of it,” Carroll Turner said.
Anyone with additional information on the incident can call NOPD Homicide Section detectives at 504-658-5300 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 504-822-1111.
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