NEW ORLEANS — The Orleans Parish District Attorney's office seized another business they say is a crime hot spot. Tuesday morning, in partnership with the New Orleans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the 24-Hour Auto and Tire Repair shop in the 1200 block of North Claiborne in Tremé tire shop was shut down.
Seize notices and a fence are now at the front of the business to keep people out.
DA Jason Williams said, "Shooting after shooting, armed robbery, drug deals, assaults, this place was running the gambit."
Williams said community members have complained about crime in that block for years. Back in September of 2022, the shop's night manager was shot and killed. Before that, in 2019 an employee pulled a gun on his boss.
"Whether you live across the way or three doors down, living within eyeshot of where these sorts of crimes are happening, where you're raising your kids when you're walking to school, it's unacceptable," said Williams.
Undercover operations were a vital part of this investigation. Court records report undercover agents witnessed drug traffickers doing business in and around the tire shop. The confidential informant conducted 'controlled purchases of narcotics.' After testing, the drugs came back positive for fentanyl.
Williams said, "I'm just thankful to state and local partners who were able to work together collaboratively to build strong cases. It's not just enough to throw handcuffs on these guys that requires thorough investigations, and strong cases that can stand up to an Orleans Parish jury."
Daniel Shanks, the Director of the DA's office of Data-Informed Community Engagement (NO DICE), said they have spent several months reviewing information about crime in the area. He said that further proved why this business needed to be shut down.
"The data showed that it was one of the riskiest places in New Orleans. You were 28% more likely, 28 times more likely to be the victim of violent crime at the corner of Claiborne and Esplanade. When we looked at the actual crimes that were occurring within this corridor, we found that over 46% of the incidents were coming from the 1200 block of N. Claiborne where we stand today. It's necessary that we look at places, not just people when it comes to crime."
Williams said he hopes the site can be redeveloped into something that benefits the community. In the meantime, Shanks NO DICE is currently looking at other sites with the same violent reputation as the tire shop.
The Orleans Parish District Attorney's office seized another business they say is a crime hot spot. Tuesday morning, in partnership with the New Orleans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), shut down the 24-Hour Auto and Tire Repair shop in the 1200 block of North Claiborne in Treme. Seize notices and a fence is now at the front of the business to keep people out.
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