{
  "id": "2023-04-07-tulane-university-downtown-aggravated-assault",
  "slug": "tulane-university-downtown-aggravated-assault-2023-04-07",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Tulane University",
    "shortName": "Tulane",
    "state": "LA",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "TU Alerts",
    "enrollment": 14000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2023-04-07",
    "type": "aggravated-assault",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "confirmed-threat",
    "headline": "Fatal shooting at a public library near the downtown campus; suspect arrested",
    "headlinePublic": "Fatal shooting at a public library near the downtown campus; suspect arrested",
    "summary": "On April 7, 2023, two non-Tulane individuals fought over a firearm at the [New Orleans Public Library near Tulane's downtown campus](https://publicsafety.tulane.edu/sites/default/files/SafetyNotice_AggravatedAssaultbyShooting%20_DowntownOffCampus_040723.pdf), and the perpetrator shot the victim twice in the chest before fleeing toward LaSalle Street. The victim, [a 72-year-old man, was pronounced dead at University Medical Center at 2:44 PM CDT](https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/man-booked-in-connection-with-murder-on-new-orleans-public-library-steps-police-say/article_9be0cc1a-dec9-11ed-a79a-134f486ad5b9.html). Tulane's Department of Public Safety issued a Clery Act safety notice for aggravated assault by shooting in Clery-reportable geography near the Murphy and Tidewater buildings.",
    "outcome": "The victim, a 72-year-old man, was transported with two gunshot wounds to the chest and pronounced dead at University Medical Center at 2:44 PM CDT. Suspect Lance Morris Lewis, 29, was later arrested and booked on second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated second-degree battery, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Neither party was affiliated with Tulane.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 1,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Afternoon of April 7, 2023, after TUPD learned of the incident at approximately 2:20 PM CDT",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "Subject: Safety Notice – Aggravated Assault by Shooting – Downtown Campus – Off-Campus\nOffense: Aggravated Assault\nDate: April 7, 2023\n\nContent Warning: This notification includes information related to an aggravated assault by shooting in our area.\n\nToday, April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm, the Tulane University Police Department learned that an aggravated assault by shooting had occurred on Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library. New Orleans Police Department investigators shared that two non-Tulane affiliated individuals inside the library became involved in an altercation the became physical in nature. During the encounter the two began to fight over a firearm which resulted in the victim being shot twice in the chest. The perpetrator fled down Gravier in the direction of LaSalle and then unknown. No information related to the description of the perpetrator has been provided at this time.\n\nThe incident was originally reported to the New Orleans Police Department, which is leading the investigation. Anyone with information related to this criminal act is urged to call the Tulane University Police Department at 504-865-5381 or the New Orleans Police Department at 911.\n\nPlease Remember These Safety Tips\n\n• Be aware of your surroundings.\n• Whenever possible, travel well-lit, busy routes.\n• Be aware of signs and triggers of an escalating conflict such as:\no Clenching of fists or jaw;\no Sudden change in body language or tone;\n\nFor Counseling and other Supportive Measures, click here.\n\nTo learn more about campus safety services and programs, click here.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://publicsafety.tulane.edu/sites/default/files/SafetyNotice_AggravatedAssaultbyShooting%20_DowntownOffCampus_040723.pdf",
      "sourceDescription": "TUPD Safety Notice PDF (Aggravated Assault by Shooting 04/07/23)",
      "annotations": [
        "Corrected to full PDF text layer from TUPD crime-alerts archive.",
        "Preserves official typo “altercation the became physical”. Soft PDF line wraps joined."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1600
    }
  ],
  "context": "On Friday, April 7, 2023, the [Tulane University Department of Public Safety issued a Clery Act safety notice](https://publicsafety.tulane.edu/sites/default/files/SafetyNotice_AggravatedAssaultbyShooting%20_DowntownOffCampus_040723.pdf) describing an aggravated assault by shooting at the New Orleans Public Library, immediately adjacent to Tulane's downtown medical campus. According to TUPD, two non-Tulane individuals became involved in a physical altercation in which they fought over a firearm; the perpetrator shot the victim twice in the chest before fleeing west on Gravier Street toward LaSalle Street. The New Orleans Police Department investigated. Tulane's [crime alerts archive](https://publicsafety.tulane.edu/crime-alerts) preserves the safety notice as a PDF, making this one of the rare cases where a verbatim Clery notice is publicly accessible. The downtown campus, anchored by the Tulane School of Medicine and Tidewater Building, sits within walking distance of the public library at 219 Loyola Avenue, and the [2023-2024 Annual Security Report](https://publicsafety.tulane.edu/sites/default/files/2024-10/ASR_Clery-2024_Final.pdf) reflects this notice in Clery-reportable categories.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Tulane publicly archives full safety-notice PDFs, allowing verbatim Clery alert text to remain accessible years later",
    "The notice illustrates how Clery's continuing-threat trigger applies to off-campus violence in immediately contiguous public space",
    "Even when neither party is university-affiliated, a violent crime in Clery geography requires a timely warning if the suspect remains at large"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Safety Notice (Aggravated Assault by Shooting) Downtown Off-Campus 04/07/23 (Tulane)",
      "url": "https://publicsafety.tulane.edu/sites/default/files/SafetyNotice_AggravatedAssaultbyShooting%20_DowntownOffCampus_040723.pdf",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Crime Alerts (Tulane Public Safety)",
      "url": "https://publicsafety.tulane.edu/crime-alerts",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "2023-2024 Tulane University Annual Security & Fire Safety Report",
      "url": "https://publicsafety.tulane.edu/sites/default/files/2024-10/ASR_Clery-2024_Final.pdf",
      "type": "clery-asr"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "aggravated-assault",
    "shooting",
    "tulane",
    "private-r1",
    "louisiana",
    "downtown-campus",
    "clery-safety-notice",
    "off-campus"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-03",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-20",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}