Brandon, a comedian, who had more than a quarter of a million followers on TikTok was shot to death on Friday outside a Warehouse District grocery store while sitting in his car.
Brandon ‘Boogie B’ Montrell, a well-known TikTok user, was killed after being caught in the crossfire of a gunfight while grocery shopping for his grandmother at a supermarket in New Orleans, United States of America, Daily Mail has reported.
Brandon, a comedian, who had more than a quarter of a million followers on TikTok was shot to death on Friday outside a Warehouse District grocery store while sitting in his car.
According to Police, he appeared to have been caught in the crossfire and was not the intended target of the shooting that was taking place in the store’s parking lot between two men. He had returned from Los Angeles for the holidays to see his mother and grandmother when tragedy struck.
The police released surveillance photos of two suspects, as well as a grey or silver sedan getaway car and a photo of a woman named Dyamonique Smith who they want to question. In this case, no arrests have yet been made.
Brandon is also extremely popular on Instagram, where he has nearly a quarter-million followers, and on Facebook, where he has 500,000.
He was well-known for his ‘Hood History’ video series, in which he would present historic sites throughout the Crescent City in a lighthearted manner.
He had recently moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment but had returned to his hometown of New Orleans for the holidays with his mother and grandmother.
His mother blasted the city of New Orleans on Saturday, saying her son’s death was symptomatic of decades of decay.
She said, “My son was not just the victim of a stray bullet,’ Montrell’s mother Sherilyn Price said in a statement. ‘He’s the victim of decades of neglect that have left New Orleans’ youth with no hope for a future and with no real fear of consequences.
“It is past time for leaders in our city and all over to do their jobs. It matters who the president is, who the governor is, and who the mayor is.
“Leaders create opportunities – including the opportunity to live in peace without fear of random violence.
“When crime and violence in New Orleans became worrisome, Montrell relocated to Washington D.C. and became a comedian,” her statement said.
“He was a really good guy,” added family attorney Juan LaFonta while speaking with Fox 8. “Always pushing himself forward. Never involved with anything negative.
“Folks need to understand that what leads to horrors like this isn’t greed, it isn’t drugs, and it isn’t violent tendencies. It’s the failure of our city’s leaders to provide proper and even minimal support for families and youth.”
LaFonta also stated that Montrell’s mother was ‘angry’ about her son’s death and was not ready to speak publicly about it.
“She is angry but not in a ‘street justice’ kind of way. She’s more angry that there’s no leadership in this city to prevent things like this and no help for these kids doing these kinds of things,” she said.
According to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Major Cities Chiefs Association data, New Orleans recorded 41 murders per 100,000 population in the first six months of 2022, the highest homicide rate of any US city.
In comparison, the first-half murder rate per 100,000 in Chicago was 11.5; in Los Angeles, it was 4.8; and in New York City, it was 2.4.
According to the city’s Metropolitan Crime Commission, homicides in New Orleans are up 141 percent from last year, while shootings are up 100 percent, carjackings are up 210 percent, and armed robberies are up 25 percent.
So far this year, there have been 265 murders in the city, compared to 213 at this time last year, a 31% increase over the same period.
It is the city’s highest level since 2003.
In comparison, there were 116 murders in 2019.
Credit: Cool fm