Multiple neighborhoods reeling after four homicides
The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office on Monday released the names of four people who were killed in separate shootings across New Orleans over the past week. The victims — three men and one woman — were found in different neighborhoods, and the coroner listed the preliminary cause of death for each as gunshot wounds.
- Zachary J. Bixler, 34 — shot in the 2300 block of Allen Street in the 7th Ward; found in a car and declared dead at the scene after police were called about 8:13 p.m. on July 7.
- Montell Robinson, 42 — shot in the 4700 block of Laine Avenue in Plum Orchard, New Orleans East; taken to a hospital after police responded about 5:59 a.m. on July 8 and later died. Records note he was shot while asleep.
- Robert Jorden III, 37 — shot in Central City in the 2800 block of Second Street; police were called about 9:39 a.m. on Friday and found him with a gunshot wound; he died hours later at a hospital. Officers reported a male suspect emerged from an alley and fled before they arrived.
- Jessyca C. Gelpi, 42 — found unresponsive at a Mid-City home in the 4000 block of Banks Street; EMS declared her dead about 3:15 p.m. on Friday. Neighbors said she had lived in the double shotgun house for about 15 years and had not been seen for several days. The coroner noted a gunshot wound and that she also appeared to have blunt force trauma to the head.
“The preliminary cause of death for all four victims was listed as gunshot wounds.”
Police provided limited additional details about the investigations. In two of the incidents — the 7th Ward killing and the Plum Orchard shooting — authorities responded after someone reported a person shot. In Central City, witnesses described a suspect emerging from an alley, and in Mid-City a neighbor’s report led officers to the home.
Local context and consequences
These deaths came from different parts of the city, underscoring how violence touches disparate neighborhoods in New Orleans. The victims’ ages — from mid-30s to early 40s — reflect the range of people affected. For families and neighbors, the killings reopen concerns about safety, response times and information-sharing from police and the coroner’s office.
| Victim | Age | Neighborhood | Reported time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary J. Bixler | 34 | 7th Ward (Allen St.) | ~8:13 p.m., July 7 |
| Montell Robinson | 42 | Plum Orchard, New Orleans East (Laine Ave.) | ~5:59 a.m., July 8 |
| Robert Jorden III | 37 | Central City (Second St.) | ~9:39 a.m., Friday |
| Jessyca C. Gelpi | 42 | Mid-City (Banks St.) | ~3:15 p.m., Friday |
City residents now await updates from the New Orleans Police Department as detectives continue homicide investigations. The coroner’s identification provides closure for next of kin and a public record, but it does not answer lingering questions about motives, whether the shootings were targeted or random, or whether suspects remain at large in each case.
As the city grapples with these losses, community leaders and residents often call for renewed focus on preventive measures, from violence-interruption programs to improved community policing and social services. For the immediate families, the coroner’s announcement is a step in the official process; for neighbors and elected officials, it is a reminder of ongoing challenges in curbing gun violence across New Orleans.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the New Orleans Police Department. The coroner’s office released the identifications to assist investigations and inform the public about the people killed in these recent homicides.
