Father carjacked, shot to death while picking up child from day care, police say

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE/Gray News) - A father was fatally shot during a carjacking in a Louisiana parking lot while picking up a child from day care.

According to New Orleans police, the shooting occurred around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday at the Abeona House Child Discovery Center on Canal Street.

New Orleans Police Department Supt. Nicholas Gernon said the accused shooter, 21-year-old Raymond Wells, was found later that night, shot in the head inside the stolen vehicle on Interstate 10.

The 21-year-old is said to be “in extremely grave condition” at an area hospital.

Gernon said if Wells recovers from his wounds, he will be booked with first-degree murder.

Authorities said it wasn’t immediately known if someone had shot him or if his gunshot wound was self-inflicted.

According to Gernon, officers initially responded to reports of gunfire about a block away from where the father was found dead.

“We believe the shooter was up to something in that block,” Gernon said. “Somebody noticed, and [Wells] opened fire on them. Then, he went a block away and encountered our carjacking victim.”

After Wells allegedly killed the father at the day care, he sped away in his vehicle before being found on I-10 near the Bonnabel exit.

Authorities did not immediately identify the father or the child involved.