Darrel Casimire Gonzales Jr., a 39-year-old White man known for his generosity and devotion to his family, was a commercial fisherman, a United States Army veteran, and a beloved community member. Born in Houma, Louisiana, he grew up in Thibodaux before his family moved to St. Bernard Parish, where he graduated from St. Bernard High School in 2002. After serving his country, he built a life in St. Bernard, pursuing careers in both HVAC and commercial fishing. A lifelong friend, Aaron Adams, remembered Gonzales as a "good guy, great father and hard-working man" who always had a smile on his face and never had "a mean bone in his body."
Darrel was deeply invested in his family and community. He was married to Lauren Becnel Gonzales, and they had two children, a son, Darrel III, and a daughter, Maria Louise. He was an active and engaged father, coaching his son's baseball team and enthusiastically participating in the "Daddy's Dance" at his daughter's recitals.
He was also a local member of the Knights of Columbus. His obituary described him as leaving behind a large, loving family, including his wife, children, father, stepmother, and numerous siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends.
On Thursday, August 4, 2022, Darrel Gonzales Jr. was found dead in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. His body was discovered under the North Claiborne Avenue bridge at Jourdan Road. An investigation by the New Orleans Police Department determined he had been shot multiple times. The shooting was part of a violent day in the area; police reports indicated that Gonzales was one of two men killed in separate but potentially related incidents in the Lower 9th Ward that day. Another person was also wounded.
The New Orleans Police Department opened a double homicide investigation into the deaths. The family was notified of Darrel's death several days later but was not immediately ready to speak publicly about their loss. In the weeks that followed, no information was released by law enforcement regarding a possible motive for the killing or whether any suspects had been identified. The case, like many others, became a part of the city's grim statistics for that year.
In memory of Darrel, his family held a memorial service on Sunday, August 28, 2022, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Chalmette. The gathering honored a life characterized by service, hard work, and love for family. Friends and family remembered a man who would give the shirt off his back to a stranger. His passing left a void in the lives of his loved ones, who found solace in the belief that he was reunited with his late mother, Dale Barnes Rachal, and stepfather, Gregory Bill Rachal.
As of the latest available reports, the investigation into the murder of Darrel Gonzales Jr. remains open and unsolved. The New Orleans Police Department has not publicly identified any persons of interest or made any arrests in connection with the case. The circumstances surrounding his death on that August day remain unclear. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the crime to contact Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans Inc. at (504) 822-1111, noting that tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward. His family and community continue to await answers and hope for justice.
