NEW ORLEANS — UPDATE: On Monday, Feb. 26, the Orleans Parish Coroner's Office released the identity of the fatal shooting victim as Giovanne Coleman.
The shooting that shut down the westbound side of the Crescent City Connection for two hours Thursday had a tragic ending on Friday morning, according to the NOPD the 23-year-old victim, later identified as Giovanne Coleman, has died.
"UPDATE: this shooting incident is now a homicide," an NOPD official said.
At around 2 p.m. Thursday, all westbound lanes were shut down on U.S. Highway 90 at the St. Charles Ave exit for just under two hours as police worked to determine the exact location of the crime scene, which is now believed to be U.S. 90 West, just past the Tchoupitoulas Street exit ramp.
Police believe the shooting occurred around 12:30, but the investigation that shut down one of the city's main thoroughfares as rush hour approached, didn't happen until hours later when officials were able to determine that a man, who had been rushed to the hospital in a private vehicle, had been shot there.
Police said Friday that the victim was driving past the Tchoupitoulas exit and on the CCC when another car approached and shots were fired.
The investigation is still ongoing.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.