NEW ORLEANS — A man charged with the attempted murder that left a college student paralyzed is back in custody on Tuesday after cutting himself free from an ankle monitor, OPSO said.
For nearly 24 hours Louisiana and federal law enforcement had been searching for Tata Say, 20, who was awaiting trial for the shooting of UNO student Noah Hansard, who was on a night-time walk by the lakefront.
US Marshalls found Say at a family member's house on Tuesday, according to law enforcement officials.
"Tata Say was captured early this morning by the US Marshall's violent crime task force. He was captured locally at a family member's home," a law enforcement official said on Tuesday. "He has been transported to the Orleans Parish jail."
Tata Say, 20, was awaiting trial for the shooting of a UNO student who was on a nightly walk near the lakefront last year when police allege Say and a juvenile tried to hold him up at gunpoint.
Noah Hansard was shot twice and paralyzed by the bullet wounds.
Say was wearing an ankle monitor and the company providing the monitoring said they had an alert indicating he had cut and removed his device.
The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office said they were informed of the situation midday Monday.
“Our office immediately contacted the Hansard family upon learning of this alert to advise them,” said the DA’s office. “We are working closely with our law enforcement partners to see that Say is located and brought into custody.”
Hansard’s mother Elisabeth said she was concerned last August when her son was late getting back from his walk.
“I was told by NOPD it was an execution-style shooting, and it is a miracle he lived,” she told NOLA.com.
Noah Hansard now needs care around the clock.