NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans police are searching for the man who killed a security guard outside a Mid-City bar.
Cellphone video shows an active crime outside Wit’s Inn, in the 100 block of North Carrollton Avenue shortly after 11 p.m., Sunday.
A spokesman for the bar confirmed a security guard, working the front door was shot and killed when he tried to prevent a man from entering.
According to the spokesman, “You have to be over 30 to get into our establishment. The security guard not only saw that he was too young, but that he was extremely intoxicated, and he was armed. So, that security guard decided obviously not to let him in.”
The security guard was identified as Darriel King, 53.
New Orleans Councilman Oliver Thomas called King a gentle giant and a good friend.
“Whenever there was a community event, someone to volunteer, mentoring, cleanup, anywhere in the city, he was that person committed to community service,” Thomas said. “It’s been a somber, tearful morning.”
Thomas noted that King’s death comes at a time when state lawmakers have approved a new law allowing people to carry concealed weapons without a permit or training.
“People with so many guns can’t settle disputes and here one of my good friends, someone who was the ultimate citizen, someone who did everything they could to help their city paid the price for his life,” Thomas said.
The Wit’s Inn spokesman called king a hero.
“A hero for risking his life for the betterment of the people that were there,” he said. “He could have saved a bunch of lives that night.”
Police continue to search for the suspect who drove away in a white Kia Soul.
NOPD has not released any additional details about the murder suspect.
City Council members released the following statement on the Wit’s Inn shooting.
The statement reads:
For far too long, New Orleans City Councilmembers, in particular Councilmember Joe Giarrusso, have repeatedly expressed neighborhood public safety concerns to City departments and the NOPD about ongoing problems at Carrollton and Canal, but with no results.
Now, tragically, security officer Darriel King has lost his life outside of Wit's Inn Bar. Councilmembers are now calling on additional enforcement and for Chief Kirkpatrick to use the recently adopted "Padlock" ordinance to review bar operations in the area.
"The tragic death of the security guard at Wit's Inn is heartbreaking and infuriating. We have been reporting and escalating quality of life problems at this location to the City for a long time and have asked for action against the bar's liquor license," said Councilmember Joe Giarrusso. "The City took no action on the license. It shouldn't take someone dying – who was doing their job to protect bar patrons – to spur action. No one else should be hurt or killed for enforcement to take place here. It is time for the City to act urgently and against this bar's liquor license."
“This is a terrible tragedy, particularly since issues in this area had been flagged for so long. We need to use every tool available to curb violence in our city,” said Council President Helena Moreno. “The City Council, through an ordinance authored by JP. Morrell, Lesli Harris, and I, allows for businesses causing safety and welfare concerns to be reviewed and potentially shut down by the Chief of Police. Code Enforcement and City agencies also need to work tenaciously and coordinated when a hot spot like this is identified. It should be an all-hands-on-deck approach.”
If you have any information, you are urged to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
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