NOPD opens investigation into Leonidas homicide response

The New Orleans Police Department has opened a formal Public Integrity Bureau disciplinary investigation into the officers who responded to a homicide in the Leonidas section of the city early Saturday morning.

NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick and NOPD Deputy Superintendent Hans Ganthier revealed few new details about the case itself, saying the NOPD wants to make sure the family of the parties involved in the case “has all the information” before more details are released. Kirkpatrick, though, said this is “an act of gun violence.”

Ganthier said the case is possibly a murder-suicide. He said the PIB investigation is the result of complaints made by family members about the response and response time. According to Ganthier, the investigation is “not only to let the family know what happened, but also to make sure our officers are held accountable for any issues.”

Kirkpatrick says detectives are trying to solve a number of “complexities” surrounding the case.

“We actually did respond to an earlier call that night,” Kirkpatrick said. “The officer did go out. The officer did try to make contact at that house.”

NOPD officers found a man and a woman dead at the scene just before 7 a.m. Saturday after responding to a call on Monroe Street near Oak Street. If you know anything about the case, call the NOPD at 504-658-5300 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.