New Orleans Cab Driver Utilizes Firearm for Self-Defense Against Robbery Attempt

A purported robber was fatally shot by a taxi driver in New Orleans, who resorted to employing their personal firearm in self-defense. The alleged robber had brandished a firearm and demanded money from the taxi driver, but instead of complying, the driver retaliated with a barrage of gunfire, resulting in multiple gunshot wounds for the alleged robber.

Reportedly, the incident transpired around 1 o’clock in the morning, when the alleged robber approached the taxi driver while wielding a gun and making a monetary demand. Responding swiftly, the unidentified cab driver discharged their firearm, striking the alleged robber multiple times.

Upon the arrival of authorities at the scene to conduct an investigation and provide initial medical assistance, the purported robber was declared deceased, as confirmed by Tim Genevay, a representative from the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office.

The individual identified as the alleged robber, whose life was lost in the course of the event, was subsequently recognized as 23-year-old Gerald Pope. Clarifying the situation, Capt. Jason Rivarde, spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, affirmed that the incident was categorized as a justifiable homicide. Consequently, the taxi driver was relieved of any potential criminal repercussions or charges in connection to the incident.

In addressing the occurrence, Mr. Rivarde stated, “The driver was presented with a threat to his life.” He went on to elaborate that the department’s investigators had reason to believe that Pope had previously targeted two separate drivers employed by the same taxi company. These instances of robbery had transpired within the last week leading up to the confrontation that resulted in the armed taxi driver’s intervention.

Supporting this assertion was the observation that Pope closely resembled the description of the suspect involved in a comparable robbery occurring the day prior at 3 pm. Furthermore, he bore a striking resemblance to an individual involved in a shooting incident from the preceding week. While scant details were disclosed concerning the two previous robberies, it was affirmed that Pope’s physical description correlated, and the common link was the involvement of the same taxi company.

The Sheriff’s Office opted to postpone the disclosure of the shooting incident, and when questioned about the reason behind this delay, Rivarde explained, “The sanctity of the criminal investigations comes before anything. In an investigation like this, ensuring that information about the shooting was not publicly available was very important.”

Fortuitously for the taxi driver, Louisiana upholds a comparatively permissive Stand Your Ground law. This legislation relieves individuals of the obligation to retreat from any location where they have a lawful right to be before employing force for self-defense. Notably, the law explicitly disallows the consideration of retreat as a factor when evaluating the appropriateness or necessity of utilizing force.

However, while there exists no obligation to retreat, other requisites remain in place. According to Louisiana statutes, the justification for self-defense hinges on the verification of four key elements: 1. The assault must be unprovoked; 2. A credible threat of imminent injury or death must be present; 3. The response must involve a reasonable degree of force to counter the threat against oneself or a loved one; and 4. A legitimate apprehension of injury must be demonstrable.

Image credit: Mugshot of Gerald Pope sourced from the New Orleans Police Department.