Michael A’Jan “Man” Williams, a 23-year-old Black man, was remembered by his family for the love he shared with them. Born in Metairie, Louisiana, on January 14, 1998, Michael was survived by his mother, sister, brother, and stepfather, as well as nieces, aunts, and a host of cousins who mourned his sudden and violent death. His life was cut short in the early morning hours of Monday, October 4, 2021, in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans.
In the pre-dawn quiet, at approximately 4 a.m., officers from the New Orleans Police Department responded to a call about a man shot in the 400 block of Burgundy Street. When they arrived near the intersection with Conti Street, they found Michael on the sidewalk, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Emergency medical services rushed him to a nearby hospital, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The shooting marked another life lost during what was a particularly violent week in the city.
The initial investigation by the NOPD yielded few immediate answers. The motive for the shooting was unknown, and no suspect was immediately named. The case was taken on by the NOPD's Homicide Unit, which began the painstaking work of gathering evidence and searching for witnesses in a neighborhood known for its constant flow of residents and tourists. Later the same day, police released a surveillance image of an unidentified man they believed was the perpetrator, asking the public for help in identifying him.
Weeks later, on October 27, 2021, investigators announced a development. They publicly identified Jacquin Johnson, a 36-year-old from Harahan, Louisiana, as a person of interest in the case. At the time, detectives emphasized that Johnson was not wanted on criminal charges but that they believed he had crucial information about the shooting and wished to question him. The public appeal for information on Johnson's whereabouts was the last significant public update on the case for nearly a year.
The investigation quietly continued until a major break occurred in September 2022. Authorities located Jacquin Johnson in Webster, New York, a town outside of Rochester. According to a news report, Johnson was taken into custody by local police following a domestic dispute. When officers ran his information, they discovered he was wanted in connection with the killing of Michael Williams.
Following his arrest in New York, almost a year after Michael's death, it was reported that Jacquin Johnson would be extradited back to New Orleans to face a charge of second-degree murder. As of that report in September 2022, the case was proceeding toward the court system, with Johnson awaiting transfer to Louisiana to answer for the fatal shooting on Burgundy Street. Further details regarding his trial, plea, or the current status of the court proceedings have not been made publicly available. The investigation remains in the hands of the New Orleans Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact NOPD Homicide detectives or call Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans.
