The Sept. 9 shooting death of 35-year-oldGerald "Tootie" Arnold is expected to be ruled a justifiable homicide, officials said Wednesday, because New Orleans police investigators have determined he was the aggressor who ignited the French Quarter gunfight that claimed his life.
The Orleans Parish District Attorney's office must concur with that recommendation before the ruling is final. But Lt. Jimmie Turner, commander of NOPD's Homicide unit, said witnesses and evidence indicate the man who fatally shot Arnold was acting in self-defense.
"Basically, we had two guys who were having an argument, a fight ensued, and they fired upon each other," Turner said. "Through our investigation, and having spoken with a variety of different witnesses, it became clear that (Arnold) was the aggressor in the incident."
Arnold died at the scene of the 2 a.m. gunfight in the 600 block of Iberville Street, between Chartres Street and Exchange Place. Police said they found a gun underneath his body.
A 31-year-old man was shot in the torso, and a 27-year-old man sustained a graze wound to the leg during the exchange, police said. Authorities did not identify these shooting victims, but police said a second gun was recovered from one of them. Police said both surviving victims were hospitalized in stable condition after the gun battle.
Turner said it has not been determined whether the wounded man who shot back at Arnold will face lesser criminal charges for his role in the incident.
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