NEW ORLEANS — A shooting incident at a historic restaurant has left a local community in shock and mourning. On Friday night, a 19-year-old man, later identified as Kareem Harris, was pursued by an assailant into Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in Treme, where he was fatally shot in the foyer. Three female tourists were also injured in the confrontation.
Family and friends remember Harris as a devoted individual raising a child he considered his own. He graduated from Livingston Collegiate Academy and was known for his caring nature. Those close to him described him as a good young man, someone who had taken on the responsibility of parenting a girl since she was merely four months old. Tragically, she will soon face a world without his presence.
“It’s unbelievable to think about burying your own child at just 19,” said Mike Willis, who spoke of his connection to Harris through family ties. “No one is prepared for this, especially a child so young.” The little girl, now almost four years old, is still grappling with the loss. “She keeps asking if she’ll see Kareem again,” Willis added, expressing the heartache enveloping those left behind.
In a statement regarding the incident, Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick emphasized the shocking nature of the shooting. The gunman followed Harris into the restaurant, continuing to fire even after Harris fell to the ground. “This was not an attack on patrons; they were tragically caught in a targeted event,” Kirkpatrick noted.
The shooting marks a grim milestone for Dooky Chase’s, an establishment celebrated for its role in the Civil Rights Movement and a staple in the community for over 85 years. Mayor Helena Moreno addressed the tragedy, highlighting the unprecedented nature of such violence at this iconic location. “In all those years, we have never witnessed anything like this. It’s a devastating incident, especially because it appears to have been targeted,” she stated.
Authorities are actively investigating the shooting as the family seeks answers. The community is also left to grapple with their grief, questioning why this young man became the target of such violence. As details unfold, the establishment that has long symbolized hope in the neighborhood now faces a somber reality, feeling the ripples of loss and the urgent need for safety.
Police are working diligently to gather more information and have encouraged anyone with details about the incident to come forward. The sad reality remains that Harris’s life was cut short, leaving behind a mourning family and a community united in their sorrow.