NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The family of 18-year-old Seth Chedville has identified him as the homicide victim in a triple-shooting over the weekend at a gas station in New Orleans East.
Police say an unknown gray SUV rolled up to the gas station at Downman Rd. and Chef Mentuer Sunday afternoon around 4 p.m. The rear passenger window rolled down, and then someone started shooting into the gas station parking lot.
Chedville, a popular stunt driver from Belle Chasse, and two other people were hit. Only Chedville died from his injuries.
Kimberly Cosse, who says they used to live by the Chedvilles, was heartbroken by the news. She said even though her family now lives in Texas, one of her sons usually rides with Chedville in the New Orleans area and was supposed to ride with him that Sunday afternoon, but her son canceled his trip to the city.
“My son really looked up to him. He was just a few years older. He used to watch him roll up and down the street. It could’ve been my son,” Cosse said.
Cosse said she instantly wanted to help her former neighbors when she heard word of the tragedy. She says she would normally cook for friends who need comfort, but that wasn’t an option in this case since she lives in another state.
Instead, she launched a Meal Train campaign for the Chedvilles, a website that gathers donations toward needy families. Since the triple-shooting, Cosse has helped raise more than $13,000.
“I just did it in a second. I really didn’t research it. I didn’t know how to use the Meal Train app thing. If it can help anything... I just have no words,” Cosse said.
On Thursday, NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick responded to the shooting, saying the tragedy is unacceptable.
“No one should be victimized. No one. Violent crime kicks us in the gut,” Kirkpatrick said.
The chief says while the NOPD looks for the suspects tied to the triple shooting, the police will look for solutions to the violence.
“We are doing strategies, we will make adjustments to these strategies to prevent this from happening to begin with,” she said.
That’s something that Cosse hopes for going forward.
“I think everyone just wants to come to New Orleans and see its beauty and enjoy its food, culture and architecture and they want to feel safe doing it especially for residents,” Cosse said.
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