WGNO

UPDATE: Man arrested in connection to Seventh Ward murder

(Getty)

UPDATE: August 3, 4:00 p.m. — On Thursday, July 22, police arrested 37-year-old Joshua M. Blancher in connection to the murder of Crystal Smith.

Blancher was arrested in a parking lot on Canal Street and was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center.


He faces a second-degree murder charge for the July 11 incident. Blancher was also booked for outstanding warrants including charges of illegal weapon use, aggravated battery, aggravated criminal damage to property, and illegal discharge of a firearm.


UPDATE: The New Orleans Coroner has identified the victim in this incident as 39-year-old Crystal Smith.

The preliminary cause of death has been listed as gunshot wound(s).


NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) —Shortly after 6 p.m. on July 11, the NOPD responded to a shooting in the 1800 block of St. Anthony Street in the Seventh Ward.

Less than an hour later, that signal was switched to a homicide.

According to the initial report, when deputies arrived on the scene they found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound.

When Emergency Medical Services arrived, technicians pronounced the victim dead on the scene.

The NOPD will update WGNO when further information becomes available.