BY KASEY BUBNASH | NOLA.com | MAY 18, 2022
Two men killed within about one block and three days of each other in the St. Claude area were identified Wednesday by the Orleans Parish coroner’s office as Dwan Carson, 27, and Maurice Motten, 31.
Carson was shot dead Friday in the 4200 block of North Prieur Street, the coroner’s office said. The shooting was reported to police at 7:45 a.m. at the intersection of France and North Prieur streets. His body was found beside a four-door Dodge parked in the front yard of a boarded-up brick house.
Motten was shot to death Monday in the 2000 block of Poland Avenue. The shooting was reported to police at 9:56 a.m., and he was found inside a home.
Karl Marquez, who has lived in the area since 1963, said Friday that 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 Sunday, New Orleans had tallied 105 homicides this year, according to the Metropolitan Crime Commission. That’s a 45% increase over the same period in 2021 and 93% over the same period in 2020.
At the current pace, the 2022 homicide total will be the city’s highest since before Hurricane Katrina.