NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — “That was my only son, and we had a beautiful relationship,” said Sharon August.
When Louisiana’s special legislative session on crime starts on Monday, Feb. 19, August will be watching closely. She prays it results in positive change in New Orleans.
Her son, Kevin August, was shot and killed last year and so far, no one has been arrested.
“I know they don’t have too many police for number one, but they should step up and do something better than what they are doing. It’s sad in New Orleans. I’m not going to lie, it’s everywhere but here it’s the worst,” said August.
There have been several violent incidents in New Orleans over the last few days. This includes a shooting involving three victims near Canal and Royal Street, just minutes after Mardi Gras wrapped up.
The New Orleans Police Department currently has 893 commissioned officers and several recruits in training.
State Senator Royce Duplessis knows improved public safety is the goal of next week’s special session, but he says the problems lawmakers are faced with run deep.
“It’s a real miss opportunity to get to the real root cause of what leads to crime. We can’t talk about things like education, we can’t talk about things like housing like poverty and the contributing factor that plays into our crime problem,” said State Senator Duplessis.
Restricting parole eligibility, increasing penalties for carjackings, and possibly releasing more information including pictures of juvenile suspects, are a few of the things Governor Jeff Landry is proposing.
However, Duplessis says much more needs to be done.
“There is nothing being proposed right now that has shown any evidence of making us safer as a state and I think it’s a real missed opportunity. New Orleanians and people across the state should be paying attention,” said Duplessis.
Something this mother says she will be doing when lawmakers get to work.
“If I get the justice I’d feel a little better, but now I’m hurt, I’m still the same,” said August.
Again, the special session convenes Monday afternoon and must wrap up by March 6.
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