‘A Horrible Crime’: New Orleans Father Killed in Carjacking Outside Day Care

A quiet Tuesday evening in New Orleans’ Mid-City neighborhood turned into tragedy when a father was killed in front of a day care while picking up his child. The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Raymond Wells, later suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was found inside the stolen car on Interstate 10, police said.

Authorities are calling the attack one of the most disturbing crimes in recent memory, shaking a community where parents expect safety and normalcy around schools and child care centers.

What Happened in Mid-City

According to New Orleans police, the sequence of events began at approximately 5:13 p.m. Tuesday on Bienville Street. Deputy Superintendent Nicholas Gernon stated that Wells appeared to be engaged in suspicious activity, possibly breaking into cars, when he was spotted by a group of people.

When confronted, Wells allegedly fired shots at them. None of those individuals were involved in the later carjacking, and they are now cooperating with investigators. Police are reviewing shell casings to determine whether anyone returned fire during that initial exchange. Several nearby vehicles were also struck by gunfire.

From there, Wells fled toward Canal Street and reached the rear of the First Grace United Methodist Church. It was there, investigators say, that Wells carjacked and fatally shot a father who had just arrived to pick up his child from Abeona House, a local day care center that shares space with the church.

The Aftermath on I-10

Using automatic license plate readers, New Orleans police tracked the stolen car across parish lines. Just over an hour later, at 6:30 p.m., Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies found the vehicle stopped on the left shoulder of the westbound lanes of Interstate 10, near the Bonnabel Boulevard exit.

Inside the car, Wells was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed to University Medical Center in “extremely grave condition,” according to officials. An armed guard now watches over him. If he survives, Wells will face a first-degree murder charge.

What remains unclear is how Wells sustained the injury. Authorities have not said whether he shot himself, was struck by return fire earlier in the evening, or was targeted in another encounter. Investigators continue to examine every possible scenario.

Community in Shock

The identity of the victim has not yet been released, pending notification of family members. Police have confirmed that the man was a parent, targeted simply because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, doing something as routine as picking up his child.

Deputy Superintendent Gernon did not mince words when describing the tragedy: “It was a truly horrible scene and a horrible crime.”

The shock has rippled far beyond the day care. At First Grace United Methodist Church, where the crime unfolded, Pastor Shawn Moses Anglim issued a heartfelt message to the community. He reminded members that the church has always been a safe place and announced that the church council would meet to discuss additional steps for ensuring safety and support.

“I ask that you stop whatever you are doing and whomever you are with, please offer prayers for this family,” Pastor Anglim wrote. “Ask that God surround them with comforting family and friends and may they feel God’s loving presence in a thousand small ways.”

The child and their mother are currently being cared for by friends, according to the pastor.

Crime and Fear in New Orleans

New Orleans has long struggled with violent crime, but the nature of this case struck a deeper chord. Parents entrust schools and day care centers as sanctuaries for children, making the incident feel especially invasive and cruel.

Community members voiced frustration that carjackings and shootings continue to plague neighborhoods despite ongoing law enforcement strategies. While city officials emphasize that technology like license plate readers can quickly locate stolen vehicles, they also acknowledge that preventing violent acts before they occur remains an uphill battle.

The intersection of violence with everyday family life — in this case, a father killed while collecting his child — has left many residents shaken and angry.

Moving Forward

The investigation is ongoing. Police are working to trace the origin of Wells’ gun, the full extent of his activity on Bienville Street, and the exact timeline between the initial gunfire and his discovery on I-10.

For the community, however, the damage is already done. A family is left devastated, a child without a father, and a city once again confronting the reality of violent crime in spaces that should be safe.

Pastor Anglim’s words captured the heart of the community’s grief and desire for healing. But for many New Orleanians, the incident raises a deeper question: how can the city make its neighborhoods secure when violence reaches into spaces as sacred as schools, churches, and day cares?