The murder of a man who had relocated to New Orleans to help the city rebuild is the city’s 108^th of the year and it’s the final straw for his wife and some of his friends, who say they are headed out, driven from a city they love by out of control crime.

Tony White, a contractor who moved from Colorado after Katrina, was killed early Thursday morning while returning from work. Police believe he was the victim of a random carjacking.

"He'd come home about 2 in the morning, minding his own business,” said his wife Tammy. “He was the nicest guy. If they wanted his wallet, he would have given it to him. But they took our jeep and killed him. That's the call I got."

Tammy White said her husband was planning to get out of the construction management business and the couple was going to open a photography studio.

His wife said Tony often worried about crime. Authorities say he was coming home from a job around 3 a.m. when he was shot once in the face in a neighborhood that is normally considered a safe one.

“He was the greatest man,” said his wife. “He was my best friend. The kids and grandkids just idolized him. He was it, and for those guys to snuff out a life like that is pitiful.”

Tammy White says she is leaving as soon as she can.

Brad Robinson, who is White’s friend and landlord, said he is also going to move from a city he no longer considers safe.

“I’m finished. I’m finished with the city of New Orleans,” he said. “As soon as me and my wife can liquidate our assets, our rental properties and our businesses, we’re leaving.”

Detectives believe it was a carjacking and said the murder appeared to be random.

"I think people can take some comfort in knowing that it was a random act of violence," said Sgt. Joe Narcisse, and NOPD spokesman. "I think the residents will tell you that the neighborhood is pretty safe, it's rare to have crime in this neighborhood, especially violent crime."

Police continued to search for the victim’s car -- a bluish-grey, 2002 Jeep Liberty with Louisiana license plate PFV-402.

Anyone with information that may lead to an arrest or on the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle is asked to call Crimestoppers at 822-1111.