On September 2, 2013 shots rang out on the 1300 block of General Ogden Street. The drive-by shooters may not have intended to kill a child, but they did. 11-year-old Arabian Gayles paid the ultimate price just days before her 12th birthday.
A year ago her uncle told WGNO, “I just heard gunshots fired like multiple times, and I heard my sister holler, not my baby.”
That night West Carrollton neighbors were rocked to the core. Now today, one year later, someone is stepping up to make a difference.
“The donor advised that he was very touched by what happened to little Arabian Gayles. He wants to see children in the neighborhood be safer and do what he can do to help with that, so to that end he provided the donation and in turn we’re going to be putting some free crime cameras in the area,” explains Bryan Lagarde with Project NOLA.
Lagarde says an anonymous donor is giving $2,500 to Project NOLA to provide ten crime cameras to residents in the West Carrollton area. Because of the donation the cameras will be free. Lagarde says the homeowner must have internet access, install them, and pay a monthly maintenance charge of $9.99.
“So if they live in the right area, and if they have the internet, and if they’re a homeowner then we would love to work with them. They host a camera. They see it. We see it. We record it, and we help,” says Lagarde.
Residents say in the past year a lot has changed. They say the neighborhood is quieter and streets are calmer, yet crime cameras would be a welcomed addition.
“Safety is a big deal. Everybody wants to be safe. It’s almost a right to be able walk out in your neighborhood,” says West Carrollton resident Chari Notter.
Right now the West Carrollton neighborhood has about 40 crime cameras up and running.
If you’d like to get your hands on one of the free cameras call Project NOLA at 504.298.9117.
NOPD officers have yet to make any arrests on the murder of 11-year-old Arabian Gayles.