Police say the attack targeted the 19-year-old victim; the gunman fled into the neighborhood.
NEW ORLEANS, LA — A 19-year-old man was shot and killed and three other people were wounded Friday night after a gunman chased the victim into Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in the Tremé neighborhood and opened fire in the foyer, police said. The shooting was reported around 8 p.m. in the 2300 block of Orleans Avenue, and the suspect remained at large late Friday.
Authorities described the attack as targeted, saying the restaurant and its patrons were not the intended focus. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told reporters outside the landmark eatery that the teen ran inside while trying to escape the shooter, who continued firing at the doorway and struck bystanders. Mayor Helena Moreno joined police at the scene as detectives began collecting surveillance video and shell casings. Two of the wounded were listed in critical condition at area hospitals late Friday; the third was reported in stable condition. The case is being investigated as a homicide.
Witnesses inside the dining room said the rush of people toward the entrance began moments after a burst of shots on Orleans Avenue. Staff ushered diners away from the front as officers arrived and crime-scene tape went up across the block. Kirkpatrick said, “This is a targeted event,” adding that the man who died collapsed just inside the foyer. She said the suspect “ran back into the neighborhood” after the gunfire. Police asked residents and businesses nearby to review private camera footage for any images of the shooter’s path. Officers could be seen marking evidence in front of the restaurant’s brightly lit exterior as paramedics moved victims to waiting ambulances.
Police and city officials said the three people wounded were visitors to the city and were not connected to the victim. Their ages were not immediately released. Investigators did not share a description of the suspect or the weapon used. Detectives were reviewing footage from nearby cameras and interviewing witnesses who had gathered for dinner and takeout on a busy Friday. A spokesperson for the department said the Orleans Parish Coroner will conduct an autopsy and release the victim’s identity after notifying next of kin. Crime tips can be provided anonymously through established reporting lines, officials said.
Dooky Chase’s, a family-run Creole restaurant dating to 1939, is one of New Orleans’ most storied dining rooms and a civil rights meeting place once frequented by national leaders. The restaurant, led for decades by the late Leah Chase, has been recognized for preserving Black culinary traditions and local art. Its location on the edge of Tremé draws neighborhood regulars and visitors alike, and the dining room is typically crowded on Friday evenings. Staff and longtime patrons said they could not recall a similar incident at the restaurant, underscoring the shock that rippled through the block as police lights filled the street.
Investigators spent hours canvassing the surrounding Sixth Ward for evidence and video that could show the suspect’s movements before and after the gunfire. Detectives were expected to review compiled footage and interview additional witnesses through the weekend. As of early Saturday, no arrest had been announced and a detailed suspect description had not been released. The department said it will provide updates as major developments occur, including the coroner’s identification and any potential warrant applications. Charges will be determined by prosecutors after an arrest, police said.
Outside the restaurant, several diners described a chaotic few minutes followed by calm as officers secured the entrance. One man who had been waiting near the door said he heard “a flurry of pops” and dropped behind a host stand as staff shouted for people to move away from the windows. Another patron said a rideshare was pulling up when the shooting started, and she took cover behind a parked car until officers waved people back. “This restaurant is part of who we are,” a neighbor said, standing behind the tape. “It shouldn’t be touched by this.”
Police had not released the victim’s name by early Saturday, Jan. 17, and offered no motive beyond calling the shooting targeted. Detectives plan to continue canvassing the area and reviewing video through the day; the next update is expected once the coroner completes an autopsy and notifies family.
Author note: Last updated January 17, 2026.