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19-year-old murdered as city leaders discussed crime problem

The NOPD said they responded to a call of a shooting around 11:30 this morning and found the 19-year-old in a car riddled with bullets

NEW ORLEANS — At the same time a sometimes heated meeting discussing crime in the City of New Orleans was taking place downtown, less than a mile away in Central City a man was shot and killed

The NOPD said they responded to a call of a shooting around 11:30 this morning and found the 19-year-old in a car riddled with bullets. He died at the hospital.

Neighbors are filled with anger and grief. They all shared a similar message - this needs to stop.

"It happens too much. Everyday," said a 24-year-old man who didn't want to share his name.

A family member said the victim was in the car with his mother and two siblings when he was shot. Police said he died at the hospital.

"I feel bad because I'm a mother myself, who wants to see your child get killed in front of you, in front of your face right there," said Trish Joanes, a Central City resident.

As the car was left with bullet holes and shattered windows, another family was left with unfathomable grief.

"We don't have no positive people we can turn to in the community," said the 24-year-old.

He believes young people need positive influences and activities.

"Yeah we have sports, we have parks, I mean that's the basics to say, 'go out,' but you got to think what do we have to pass through to get to these parks? What do we have to do to get to the few positive things in the city?" he said.

The deadly shooting happened as city council members were a mile away holding a heated meeting to discuss how to fight the crime.

"If they feel like what they can do to better, make a change in our neighborhood then come on. I shouldn't have to ask, I shouldn't have to ask council members or politicians or people with power to come down and, 'oh we need your help.' You see we need your help, just like if you had a family member that needed help, you're not going to wait until they say we need your help, you're going to address the problem as is," the 24-year-old man said.

Detectives are still working to figure out a possible suspect and motive. The victim's name hasn't been released.

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