Louis Perrette

Louis Paul Perrette IV, a 23-year-old Black man known to his loved ones as "1 BIGGS," was a New Orleans native born on February 25, 1993. Remembered by his family, he was a cherished presence in their lives. His life was abruptly and violently cut short, leaving behind a legacy of love and a community searching for answers.

On the afternoon of September 14, 2016, a call about a vehicle fire sent first responders to a grassy, isolated area in the 8700 block of Morrison Road in New Orleans East. Around 5 p.m., New Orleans Fire Department personnel arrived alongside New Orleans Police Department officers to extinguish the blaze. Inside the burned-out car, they made a grim discovery: a human body. The scene was immediately secured, and what might have been considered a tragic accident was reclassified as a homicide investigation. The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office later identified the victim as Louis Perrette. An autopsy revealed the horrific truth of his final moments: he had been shot in the head before the fire was set, a clear attempt to destroy evidence and conceal the identity of the person responsible.

The New Orleans Police Department’s homicide division quickly took charge of the case. Two days after the discovery, investigators released chilling surveillance footage to the public. The video showed an unidentified individual approaching Perrette's vehicle, setting it on fire, and being caught in the resulting flash of flames. Police theorized the suspect may have sustained burns and sought treatment at a local hospital, urging medical facilities and the public to be aware. The footage provided a stark, though grainy, image of the crime's immediate aftermath, but the suspect's identity remained a mystery.

Weeks later, on October 29, 2016, the NOPD announced a development. They publicly identified 23-year-old Ronald Lewis as a person of interest in the case. Detectives stated they believed Lewis, born on June 17, 1993, might possess crucial information regarding the murder. However, they were careful to note that there was no active arrest warrant for him in connection with the homicide; they simply wanted to question him. Police circulated his name and photograph, asking for the public’s help in locating him.

Despite this public appeal and the release of the dramatic surveillance video, the investigation stalled. No announcements of an arrest or charges against Ronald Lewis or any other individual were ever made in the years that followed. Lewis was sought for questioning, but the trail appears to have gone cold, leaving the case without a resolution. The initial burst of activity in the investigation gave way to a long and painful silence for Perrette's family and friends.

As of late 2026, the murder of Louis Perrette remains unsolved. The questions surrounding his death are as haunting as the image of the burning car on that desolate stretch of Morrison Road. The New Orleans Police Department has not publicly released any new information or named any other suspects. The case stands as a painful open wound for his loved ones, who are still waiting for justice. Anyone with information regarding the murder of Louis Perrette is urged to contact NOPD Homicide Detective Clinton Givens at 504-658-5300 or Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans at 504-822-1111.