Courtney Hughes, a 19-year-old Southern University student, was identified as one of two young people killed in a New Orleans shooting over New Year’s weekend. According to a Southern University statement, Hughes was visiting her hometown for the holidays when she was unfortunately killed in a Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood at around midnight.
Pink balloons everywhere in memory of Courtney Hughes @WWLTV pic.twitter.com/oL2bknPL7P
— Eleanor Tabone (@EleanorTabone) December 29, 2022
“Southern University extends condolences to the family and loved ones of Courtney Hughes, a freshman from New Orleans who was majoring in nursing,” the statement continued to offer its condolences to the others injured and killed in the tragedy.
Southern University extends condolences to the family and loved ones of Courtney Hughes, a freshman from New Orleans who was majoring in nursing. She was fatally shot on Monday morning. Our thoughts are also with others affected by this tragic incident. https://t.co/YKeCahFCxl pic.twitter.com/fksOb2tZWj
— Southern University (@SouthernU_BR) December 28, 2022
WWLTV reported that the shooting occurred at a party, and Hughes and another 19-year-old male victim died on the scene.
Crimestoppers has put up a $5,000 reward in return for information leading to the closing of the case.
CEO Darlene Cusanza said, “I don’t know how as a citizen, you can stand silent and not say we have to be one team, one mission and one response, and the only response is to say stop the violence come forward and help.”
Rohan Johnson, a close friend of both of the teens killed, said that Hughes was “probably one of the sweetest people I knew.”
Four other teenagers were injured in the shooting and are now in the hospital receiving treatment. No one has been apprehended or identified as a person of interest for the murders.
