BY MISSY WILKINSON and CARLIE KOLLATH WELLS | NOLA.com | MAY 16, 2022

A 31-year-old man was killed in a shooting Monday morning in the Musicians’ Village area of St. Claude, New Orleans police said.

It’s the second homicide in the area in less than a week. On Friday, a person was killed a block away at France and North Prieur streets (map).

Monday’s shooting was reported to police at 9:56 a.m. in the 2000 block of Poland Avenue (map), authorities said. The man was found inside a home. Emergency Medical Services pronounced him dead at the scene.

His name has not been released.

As of 10:30 a.m., police were focusing their efforts on the house, which is flanked by empty lots and sits across the street from an equipment supplier.

As police conducted their investigation, a woman collapsed to her knees on busy Poland Avenue, crying and asking, “Who killed my baby?” Officers ushered her out of the path of incoming traffic, which included city buses and 18-wheelers.

Dorionne Scott, who has lived in the area for 13 years, says the level of violence inundating the once-quiet neighborhood is “ridiculous.”

“City officials need to do something about poverty, because that’s where this stems from,” she said.

Following Friday’s homicide, Karl Marquez, who has lived in the area since 1963, said criminals know the area has become deserted since Hurricane Katrina and take advantage of the lack of activity.

“It’s unfortunate, but as long as you have unoccupied buildings, you’ll have this,” Marquez said.

As of May 15, New Orleans had tallied 105 homicides, according to the Metropolitan Crime Commission— a 45% increase compared with this time last year and a 93% increase compared with 2020. The homicide rate is set to eclipse rates prior to Katrina if trends continue. Fewer than 1,000 officers man a police force that is considered fully staffed at 1,600 officers due to ongoing attrition and recruiting issues.

No other details were immediately available about either killing, including a possible motive or a description of a shooter. Anyone with information is asked to call NOPD Homicide Detective Nick Davis at (504) 658-5300 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.