New Orleans police announce arrest in weekend Bourbon Street deadly shooting
The New Orleans Police Department has made an arrest in connection with a deadly shooting that happened on Bourbon Street over the weekend.
Andre Preston, 26, was shot and killed Saturday night.
NOPD announced that Jakoz King of Reserve was arrested in connection with the shooting.
He is facing one charge of second-degree murder.
Andrea Preston, the mother of the 26-year-old, said she is devastated after losing her oldest son.
"I can't, I can't process it. I can't even fathom right now. I'm just like speechless, I'm hurt," Andrea Preston said.
According to New Orleans police, Andre was in the French Quarter early Saturday morning near the intersection of Bourbon and St. Louis streets when someone started shooting.
"He died on the scene. That hurts very much," Andrea Preston said.
Andre's mother told WDSU that her child was an innocent bystander and was killed just hours before his birthday.
"Celebrating his 27th birthday, yes sir. He died on the 10th, his birthday on the 11th," Andrea Preston said.
She called Andre the life of the party and a protector, saying he looked after his siblings and cared for everyone around him. She said the call she received pierced her heart because it was something she had never imagined hearing again.
"I don't have the strength. I'm still trying to recover from my baby boy, and now it's my oldest boy. It's like, the gun violence just has to stop," Andrea Preston said.
In 2021, Andrea Preston lost her youngest son to gun violence. She told WDSU no one should have to lose their kids in this way.
"And for them to just take him from me, it hurts so bad," Andrea Preston said.
Andre's death comes just nine days after a state law went into effect in New Orleans, allowing anyone 18 and older to legally carry a gun without a permit or training. Calls for service data in the French Quarter showed Saturday's shooting was the first homicide reported since that law took place.
Andre's mother said her son did not deserve to die like this, pleading with people to stop the violence.
"The gun violence just really needs to stop. Put the guns down," Andrea Preston said.