NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The parents of a 24-year-old, who was killed during a mass shooting outside a New Orleans night club, hope her death brings change.
Gary and Sharon Poleate, the parents of Jezreel Poleate, appeared before the New Orleans City Council Thursday, recounting the worst phone call they ever received.
Sharon sobbed, “[The woman on the phone] said, ‘Is this Jezreel’s mother?’ I said, ‘What, what, what?’ She said, ‘Jezreel is dead!'”
Police say Jezreel was shot and killed while waiting in line to get inside the nightclub Republic Sunday night.
Now, Jezreel’s parents are receiving support from New Orleans agencies, leading up to National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
“They’re not alone,” said Captain Stephanie Minto with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. “We, as partners, are here to help them go through the process, help them with the criminal justice system. They all have rights.”
As for the investigation, Gary and Sharon are hopeful for an arrest in the case.
“They’re doing the best that they can, but the crime is just rampant,” Gary said. “We just pray that somehow, we can detect it, get it done. And I want to say to even the perpetrators that this was unnecessary.”
A church service dedicated to Jezreel will be held at 9 a.m. on Sunday at New Orleans’ Sixth Baptist Church with a balloon release to follow. That same day, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week kicks off.
“As we move forward during this week where we commemorate victims of crime, we also just recognize we have so much more to do in our city,” said Councilman Eugene Green. “We’re moving forward in the right direction, in some respects, but so much more to do.”
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