NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans police officers are investigating social media posts from someone who said their brother was the gunman in a triple shooting that killed a nine year old, police told The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.
No arrests have been reported and no suspects been named in the Monday triple shooting that killed Devante Bryant and wounded others.
A day after Bryant was killed, a New Orleans area Instagram account posted a still image of surveillance video that showed the moments shortly before the 9-year-old boy was shot and killed. The social media post pointed to the shooter, saying "That (is) my brother."
Another message from the same account addressing another user said "I'm sorry my brother shoot (your) sis. I am sorry."
A third message included the social media handle that belongs to the alleged shooter.
Police have begun investigating the authenticity of the social media posts and handles. Detectives have been taking the messages seriously, investigating who wrote them and why, a source told The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.
Devante was shot to death in the 2100 block of Pauger Street. A private surveillance video shared with The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate showed the killer sneaking up North Villere Street, turn on Pauger Street and fire a handgun at Devante and four others sitting on the stoop of the boy’s home.
Shot in the head, Devante died instantly, the video shows.
A 15-year-old girl and another boy about the same age were also shot but survived. The two others sprinted away without being physically wounded, and police said the gunman fled in a white Jeep.
Police found a Jeep matching that description parked outside of an Algiers apartment complex on Tuesday and were working on getting permission to search it. .
Bryant’s death comes two months after a toddler was shot to death in Algiers in a case that has led to two arrests.
Neighbors said it was a powerful reminder that street violence that has plagued the city for decades is still a problem, even as the coronavirus pandemic and protests against police brutality and racism dominate news headlines.
Tipsters can call Crimestoppers anonymously at (504) 822-1111 and may be eligible for a cash reward.
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