Cedric Maurice Brown, known to relatives and friends by the nickname “Paw,” was only 22 years old when he was shot and killed in New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 7, 2012. His death occurred during a late evening shooting in the Lower Algiers section of the city, where police officers found him near a bicycle after residents reported hearing gunfire.
Cedric’s murder became another unresolved homicide in a city that was experiencing persistent gun violence. Although investigators responded to the scene and began looking for witnesses, the publicly available details about the crime remained limited. No confirmed motive was announced, no suspect was publicly identified and no arrest was reported.
More than a decade later, the central questions surrounding Cedric’s death remain unanswered. Investigators have not publicly explained why he was targeted, whether he knew the person who shot him or what happened immediately before the gunfire. His family was left to mourn a young father whose life ended without accountability or a clear explanation.
Cedric’s Life Before the Shooting
Cedric Maurice Brown was born on May 25, 1990, and was a lifelong resident of New Orleans. He grew up in a city known for its strong neighborhoods, close family relationships and deeply rooted cultural traditions.
Cedric attended O. Perry Walker High School, an important educational institution in the Algiers community. He was known as “Paw” among those closest to him, a nickname that reflected the personal identity he carried among relatives, friends and members of his neighborhood…