Investigators are trying to figure out why someone beat a 72-year old woman to death in New Orleans East.

The body of Yen Nguyen was discovered inside her home Dwyer Road Thursday night.

WWL-TV

A Vietnamese community in New Orleans East was shaken by the murder of a 72-year-old woman.

The family was shaking by the murder and didn't want to talk on camera to the press, but many who live in this largely Vietnamese area of New Orleans East saw her outside walking often.

“She's a very quiet person, lived by herself, to herself really,” said Father Vien The' Nguyen.

Mrs. Nguyen was 72-years old, but father Vien says she was very active, working in her garden and often walking to Mary Queen of Vietnam Church.

Father Vien says he first met Mrs. Nguyen when they both lived on the West Bank and has known her for the past 31 years.

He says because there are so many people her age in the neighborhood his church is working on building a senior center.

“We've been pushing for that for several years, and before we could achieve that she died in a violent manner. It's like being kicked in the gut,” said Father Vien.

The New Orleans Police Department is not releasing many details about the investigation, only to saying officers responded to a call at her home.

They say Mrs. Nguyen suffered apparent trauma to the body and was pronounced dead on the scene.

But police have said nothing yet about a motive or suspects.

Meanwhile, some neighbors say the neighborhood is not as safe as it was before Hurricane Katrina.

“I feel so bad, as we're real upset about the situation, and the way it's going on around here,” said Tuyen Nguyen.

Father Vien disagrees. He says the neighborhood is safe, and he says it hurts him that news like this has to come out of his community.

“But now, people from afar, when they hear about this, they would question whether or not they want to move their family back home, back to New Orleans East, or back to New Orleans,” said Father Vien.