NEW ORLEANS — A man accused of a 2021 murder on Canal Street has shown up for his scheduled hearing in court Thursday, despite being reported as having removed his ankle monitor sometime Wednesday.
Khutbi Abdelkader was able to get free from his monitor Wednesday evening on Wright Avenue on the west bank of Jefferson Parish, according to ASAP monitoring . He was due in court for a bond hearing Thursday.
The Orleans Parish Criminal District Judges were notified and a warrant was been issued, but Abdelkader has apparently shown up for his hearing. .
Abdelkader was indicted in early 2022 for the murder of Anthony Francois.
According to NOLA.com, Abdelkader, who owns a vape shop on Canal Street, told investigators that he was outside of his store on Canal St. on the day of the shooting. He claimed that Francois was banging on the store's front glass window and that when Abdelkader went outside to confront him, he saw Francois "reaching for an object" and shot him.
The victim was taken to the hospital where he died from his wounds.
Abdelkader was detained at the scene for questioning shortly after the police arrived and officers determined he was the suspected shooter.
Police said that investigators determined that Abdelkader and the victim were having an argument outside of a business and that at some point the victim was shot.
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