By: Winston Reed | wwltv.com | January 22, 2026
NEW ORLEANS — As January comes to a close, New Orleans has recorded fewer homicides than during the same period last year, according to new crime data.
Investigators are still working to solve several recent cases, including two homicides. Last week, 19-year-old Kareem Harris was shot and killed inside the foyer of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in the Treme neighborhood. Three patrons were also shot and wounded during the incident. New Orleans police say the shooter targeted Harris. Crime Stoppers is offering a $13,500 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Harris’ sister said her brother had been involved in a prior altercation but chose not to retaliate.
“The people we feel like did it, they been messing with my little brother,” said Simmons, Harris’ sister. “There was a fight, and they jumped him before. He had every reason, every right, every opportunity to retaliate and he didn’t.”
In New Orleans East, police are also searching for a suspect in a fatal shooting earlier this week at the Willow Apartments, a complex long associated with violent crime.
“It’s very unfortunate,” said City Councilman Jason Hughes, who represents District E. “Obviously, the Willows has been in the news for many years — not for the right reason.”
Data released Thursday by the Metropolitan Crime Commission show that, as of Thursday, Jan. 22, New Orleans has recorded seven homicides in 2026—about a 63% decrease from the 19 homicides reported in January of last year.
However, crime analysts caution that last year’s figures were heavily influenced by an outlier event: an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 people on New Year’s Day.
While homicides are down, shootings have increased. Eleven shootings have been reported so far this month, compared to seven during the same period last January.
Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche said it is too early to draw conclusions from one month of data.
“Three weeks’ worth of data do not accurately predict what the rest of the year is going to look like,” Goyeneche said. “You have spikes and you have peaks and you have valleys. It’s sort of like the stock market.”
Goyeneche also pointed to concerns over unsolved violent crimes, particularly in the city’s 1st Police District, where Dooky Chase’s Restaurant is located and where violent crime has recently increased.
Police continue to ask anyone with information on recent shootings or homicides to contact Crime Stoppers.