New Orleans Metro Crime and Courts News

Tracking local crime, criminal justice and courts news in metro New Orleans, Louisiana

A 13-year-old student was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of bringing a loaded gun to Westdale Middle School in Baton Rouge a day earlier. Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokeswoman for the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, said the student, who is in the sixth grade, was booked into juvenile detention on charges of illegal carrying of a weapon on... Full story »

It is unclear when they will be returned to Jefferson Parish Full story »

Comprehensive environmental impact statement needed, preservationists argue Full story »

A spate of recent fires that destroyed or damaged several churches in eastern Texas were intentionally set, likely by the same person or group, federal authorities said Tuesday. Fires that broke out at two churches near Tyler on Monday have not yet been ruled arson, but authorities are investigating them as such. They were reported within an hour of one... Full story »

Here's what newspapers throughout the state are offering online readers today regarding law enforcement and the courts: The Baton Rouge Advocate: State Supreme Court to hear appeal of Lafayette Parish School Board's liability for a student's rape in 2004. The Shreveport Times: Machete-wielding man arrested on robbery charge. The Lafayette Advertiser: State Supreme Court will hear appeal of case... Full story »

A federal official says a fire that destroyed a church last week was the eighth case of arson against a house of worship in Texas this year. Spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tom Crowley, says the fire Thursday at the Russell Memorial United Methodist Church sanctuary in Wills Point, 45 miles east of... Full story »

A lawyer for a ninth-grader charged with shooting a fellow student to death at their Alabama school says the violence was likely related to gang activity. Bruce Gardner represents a 14-year-old boy being held in the slaying of Todd Brown, a fellow ninth grader at Discovery Middle School in Madison. Brown was killed Friday. Gardner's client is charged with... Full story »

An inmate who escaped from the Orleans Parish jail just hours before the Super Bowl on Sunday was recaptured Monday afternoon, a spokesman for Criminal Sheriff Marlin Gusman said. The sheriff's office released very limited information about Reginald Knight's escape, saying only that he was able to scale the "perimeter fence" in the 700 block of South White Street... Full story »

Stabbing near Bourbon and Conti streets left man in critical condition Full story »

Some prospective jurors expected in court Tuesday in St. John the Baptist Parish will get a reprieve until Wednesday. Jury duty for 40th Judicial District court Judge Sterling Snowdy, Division C, has been postponed from until Wednesday at 9 a.m. because of the parade in honor of the New Orleans Saints football team.    Full story »

The St. Tammany Parish government offices north of Mandeville were evacuated Monday morning after a suspicious package was found near the building. The package only contained paper and was not harmful, Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. George Bonnett said. Hazardous materials crews from St. Tammany Parish's 4th Fire Protection District were on the scene as Sheriff's Office bomb disposal units worked to determine... Full story »

Three people were wounded this morning near Iberville and Bourbon streets, the New Orleans Police Department reported.  Full story »

New Orleans police are seeking the public's help identifying a suspect wanted for exposing himself yesterday near the old clubhouse in Audubon Park, the New Orleans Police Department reported. Full story »

A 23-year-old man was shot and killed this evening in the 1700 block of Hero Boulevard, the New Orleans Police Department reported. Full story »

Longtime Orleans Parish Coroner Frank Minyard defeated challenger Dwight McKenna Saturday, remaining in the post he has held since 1974. Although he turned 80 last year, Minyard said he decided once again to run for office in order to fufill his career goal of building a new, state-of-the-art facility for the coroner. The project was largely made possible by... Full story »