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13-YEAR-OLD WITH ANKLE MONITOR IS SUSPECTED AS SHOOTER IN MID-CITY ARMED ROBBERY DEATH
By Rhonda Nabonne, The Times-Picayune
On the day he turned 13, an eastern New Orleans boy who already had a lengthy criminal record was found "hiding at home" just hours after he and a 15-year-old accomplice allegedly gunned down a man during an armed robbery attempt in Mid-City Tuesday afternoon. The boys are accused of killing Rafael Quintanilla, 58, as he sat on the front steps of his home in the 4000 block of Baudin Street. The 13-year-old pointed a .380 caliber pistol at him and demanded that he "give him everything," according to police. Before Quintanilla could comply, the 13-year-old shot him in the stomach and both teenagers ran from the scene, police said.
View full sizeMichael DeMocker, The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans police work the scene of the shooting of Rafael Quintanilla on Baudin Street on Tuesday.
Quintanilla was brought to a nearby hospital, where he died of his wounds Tuesday night. On Wednesday, a Baudin Street resident said Quintanilla banged on his door for help after he was shot but he was already dying.
With tips from eyewitnesses, 1st District police officers apprehended the 15-year-old, who was recognizable because of his Mohawk hairstyle, police said. They later tracked down the 13-year-old, who was wearing an ankle monitor.
"This 13-year-old who celebrated his birthday by taking the life of a another human being had multiple run-ins with the law for violence, guns, curfew, theft and other crimes," New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas said.
In a news conference Wednesday about the city's latest rash of gun violence, Serpas said he couldn't reveal the names of the juveniles or give details about their criminal records, but called the Baudin Street killing a tragedy for the city.
Serpas credited a 44-year veteran NOPD veteran and his 35-year veteran partner with getting descriptions from witnesses and tracking down the suspects. Within minutes, police said, the 15-year-old was apprehended. After he was taken into custody, he identified the 13-year-old as the triggerman who was wearing an ankle bracelet monitored by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office.
The second boy was found "hiding at home," Serpas said. After serving a search warrant, police found what they believe to be the weapon used in the murder, Serpas said.
Serpas said "everything quickly fell into place" for police. "Officers were able to track down the first suspect within minutes of the shooting because witnesses provided accurate descriptions of both teens," he said. He also credited Sheriff Marlin Gusman's office with being "responsive" in helping to locate the second teen.
"This was an impressive team effort, and resulted in speedy arrests," Serpas said.
In Mid-City Wednesday afternoon, Baudin Street residents talked about the crime and described Quintanilla as a friendly and generous person who often shared his food with neighbors.
Someone pushed an empty pack of cigarillos in the metal grating by the stoop where Quintanilla sat daily, smoking and greeting neighbors, and a clutch of flowers and stuffed animals lay on the corner nearby.
His neighbor, Alfredo Pinto, said he heard one shot -- "We heard the pop. Boom!" -- and Quintanilla banged on his door before staggering to the curb.
Pinto said it took rescue workers 15 minutes to arrive and that Quintanilla languished for several minutes longer and appeared to be dying before he was taken by ambulance to a hospital.
He said Quintanilla was a friendly Cuban man who was sitting on the stoop, getting ready to shave when the boys approached him and shot him in the stomach, before he could respond to their demand for anything he had.
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/05/13-year-old_and_15-year-old_ch.html
By Rhonda Nabonne, The Times-Picayune
On the day he turned 13, an eastern New Orleans boy who already had a lengthy criminal record was found "hiding at home" just hours after he and a 15-year-old accomplice allegedly gunned down a man during an armed robbery attempt in Mid-City Tuesday afternoon. The boys are accused of killing Rafael Quintanilla, 58, as he sat on the front steps of his home in the 4000 block of Baudin Street. The 13-year-old pointed a .380 caliber pistol at him and demanded that he "give him everything," according to police. Before Quintanilla could comply, the 13-year-old shot him in the stomach and both teenagers ran from the scene, police said.
View full sizeMichael DeMocker, The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans police work the scene of the shooting of Rafael Quintanilla on Baudin Street on Tuesday.
Quintanilla was brought to a nearby hospital, where he died of his wounds Tuesday night. On Wednesday, a Baudin Street resident said Quintanilla banged on his door for help after he was shot but he was already dying.
With tips from eyewitnesses, 1st District police officers apprehended the 15-year-old, who was recognizable because of his Mohawk hairstyle, police said. They later tracked down the 13-year-old, who was wearing an ankle monitor.
"This 13-year-old who celebrated his birthday by taking the life of a another human being had multiple run-ins with the law for violence, guns, curfew, theft and other crimes," New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas said.
In a news conference Wednesday about the city's latest rash of gun violence, Serpas said he couldn't reveal the names of the juveniles or give details about their criminal records, but called the Baudin Street killing a tragedy for the city.
Serpas credited a 44-year veteran NOPD veteran and his 35-year veteran partner with getting descriptions from witnesses and tracking down the suspects. Within minutes, police said, the 15-year-old was apprehended. After he was taken into custody, he identified the 13-year-old as the triggerman who was wearing an ankle bracelet monitored by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office.
The second boy was found "hiding at home," Serpas said. After serving a search warrant, police found what they believe to be the weapon used in the murder, Serpas said.
Serpas said "everything quickly fell into place" for police. "Officers were able to track down the first suspect within minutes of the shooting because witnesses provided accurate descriptions of both teens," he said. He also credited Sheriff Marlin Gusman's office with being "responsive" in helping to locate the second teen.
"This was an impressive team effort, and resulted in speedy arrests," Serpas said.
In Mid-City Wednesday afternoon, Baudin Street residents talked about the crime and described Quintanilla as a friendly and generous person who often shared his food with neighbors.
Someone pushed an empty pack of cigarillos in the metal grating by the stoop where Quintanilla sat daily, smoking and greeting neighbors, and a clutch of flowers and stuffed animals lay on the corner nearby.
His neighbor, Alfredo Pinto, said he heard one shot -- "We heard the pop. Boom!" -- and Quintanilla banged on his door before staggering to the curb.
Pinto said it took rescue workers 15 minutes to arrive and that Quintanilla languished for several minutes longer and appeared to be dying before he was taken by ambulance to a hospital.
He said Quintanilla was a friendly Cuban man who was sitting on the stoop, getting ready to shave when the boys approached him and shot him in the stomach, before he could respond to their demand for anything he had.
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/05/13-year-old_and_15-year-old_ch.html
