NEW ORLEANS -- Nearly a decade after a high-profile post-Katrina police shooting case, Henry Glover's death is now being classified as a homicide.
The 31-year-old was shot and killed by a police officer. His body was burned in a car on a levee. The massive New Orleans Police Department cover-up made its way to federal court.
On Wednesday, Glover's family weighed in on the new development.
"Glory, glory. Thank the Lord," said Edna Glover.
Finally an answer her prayers nearly 10 years after her son, Henry Glover, was shot to death by former NOPD Officer David Warren. His life was taken outside a police substation in an Algiers strip mall after Hurricane Katrina. Up until now his death was "unclassified" by the Orleans Parish Coroner's Office.
"It should have been classified as a homicide the way it happened. He was unarmed. Where did the gun come from that the officer saw? To just shoot my cousin down like a dog," said Brandon McIntyre, Glover's cousin.
Warren would admit to shooting Glover, testifying he believed Glover was an armed looter. Warren was acquitted of federal civil rights charges in 2013.
For years, Glover's family asked former Orleans Parish Coroner Frank Minyard to classify his death as a homicide, but he refused, citing lack of evidence.
The 31-year-old's body was burned in a car on a levee by NOPD Officer Gregory McRae, who is now serving 17 years in prison.
In a statement on Wednesday, Dr. Jeffrey Rouse said a review of all available evidence and court transcripts is what prompted this reclassification.
"We know that the coroner of Orleans Parish has righted a wrong. He has corrected a mistake. It was improperly classified," said Eyewitness News legal analyst Chick Foret.
Foret said what happens next falls in the lap of the Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro.
"The question becomes, now what? What happens? Does the DA's Office start a new investigation?" Foret said.
"I didn't know it was coming," Edna Glover said. "Today the coroner called me."
Just hours after getting word from the Orleans Parish coroner, Eyewitness News caught up with Glover's mom and cousins at their Algiers home.
"Our next step is to go back to the District Attorney's Office. Federal Court is through with it. We'll take it back to the District Attorney's Office and try to get him to pick it up. God did this for a reason," said Brandon McIntyre.
Glover's family is still haunted by his death and the post-Katrina New Orleans police cover up that followed. But they say this latest development gives them renewed faith.
"It gives you hope. But I had never given up hope," said Kawan McIntyre.
David Warren's attorney Rick Simmons issued a statement on Wednesday saying:
"The coroner's reclassification of Mr. Glover's death as a homicide is not based upon any new evidence and has no effect on Mr. Warren's prior acquittal…It is fundamentally unfair, if not a violation of the principal of Double Jeopardy, to commence a third trial of Mr. Warren."
Chris Bowman spokesman for the Orleans Parish District Attorney says Cannizzaro's office has not seen a copy of the coroner's report regarding the Glover case and declined to comment on the announcement.
