Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A Violet area armed robbery and alleged sex crime led to a police chase that ended on the Claiborne Avenue Bridge in New Orleans on Thursday, Jan. 11.
According to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 9 a.m. to a call about an armed robbery in the 3000 block of Ashley Drive.
“This is a very unusual type of violent crime in St. Bernard Parish,” said St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmann.
Pohlmann said 26-year-old Deindre Brock allegedly robbed and sexually assaulted a 25-year-old Violet woman at gunpoint.
The two met after he agreed to a deal online to buy some electronics from the victim.
Brock later left the scene in the woman’s car, eventually crashing into two other vehicles on the Claiborne Bridge.
Brock was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Deputies made tactical responses in entry to the vehicle where we found the perpetrator of the crime in the vehicle with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,” said Pohlmann.
Pohlmann said deputies did not fire any shots.
“There were no shots fired at the vehicle during the pursuit, no shots were fired on the scene. Rounds were fired from inside the vehicle, outside the vehicle. They also have a gunshot wound to his head,” said Pohlmann.
Neighbors near the bridge on the New Orleans side said this incident and others terrify them.
“Even me walking down the street at night is a big no-no. I feel unsafe, I don’t feel like I am able to be free. I feel like I have to be watching my back,” said the resident.
The sheriff said this is the first carjacking of the year in St. Bernard. There was only one in 2023.
He recommends anyone trying to sell items online meet in a safe place.
“If you are going to sell anything online and you are going to go to an unknown area to meet and meet unknown people, just have them meet you in a safe place. Including a well-lit area, a well-trafficked area,” said Pohlmann.
The sheriff also said the victim of the carjacking and sexual assault is recovering at a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with further information about the incident can call the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504)-271-2501 or Crimestoppers at (504)-822-1111.
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