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3-year-old found brother's loaded gun in French Quarter apartment, shot herself, NOPD says

The New Orleans Police Department said 18-year-old Donell E. Barthelemy was arrested in connection to two separate homicides.

NEW ORLEANS — An 18-year-old man is in custody after police say his 3-year-old sister found his gun and fatally shot herself.

Just before 3:50 p.m., officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 400 block of Burgundy Street. Officers found a 3-year-old girl, later identified as Autumn Barthelemy, suffering from a gunshot wound. The girl was taken to a hospital where she later died.

New Orleans police said the girl's brother, 18-year-old Donell Barthelemy, admitted that he left his gun behind the toilet earlier that day. According to the police report, Barthelemy said that when his little sister went to use the bathroom, he heard the gun go off and found his sister shot in the head.

Barthelemy , along with a 17-year-old, were questioned by police after the shooting. The 17-year-old was later released.

Investigators say that Barthelemy had an active warrant for his arrest as a suspect in a murder on Sept. 30, 2021 in the 2400 block of Ursulines Avenue which claimed the life of 34-year-old Brian Thomas.

Detectives obtained a warrant for Barthelemy's arrest on March 16 for one count of second-degree murder, and after Tuesday's shooting an additional warrant for one count of negligent homicide was issued.

Barthelemy was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center on both charges.

NOPD homicide detectives are asking anyone with additional information on the September 2021 incident or the April 26 homicide to contact NOPD Homicide Detective Lucretia Gantner or NOPD Homicide Detective Michael Haynes at 504-658-5300.

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