The New Orleans Police Department has released its preliminary crime statistics for the week of August 24-30, which include several notable arrests connected to recent homicides. NOPD’s efforts resulted in the capture of Timothy Hall, Ra’Quine Butler, and Helmer Valeriano-Ordonez, all booked on counts of second-degree murder for separate incidents across the city. This information was detailed in a report published by NOPD News today, highlighting the investigative work by various units within the department.
Timothy Hall’s arrest last Thursday stems from a deadly altercation that occurred on Iberville Street, where NOPD’s Violent Offender Warrant Squad and U.S. Marshals collaborated to apprehend the suspect, while NOPD’s strategic partnership with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office helped to quickly locate and arrest Ra’Quine Butler as a fugitive, set to be extradited to face the charges. On the same day, NOPD’s Homicide Section was able to swiftly bring in Helmer Valeriano-Ordonez, offering a small semblance of justice to the families affected by these tragedies. According to the NOPD News report, the defendants are now awaiting their respective dates with the court system.
While the police department has been successful in making these high-profile arrests, NOPD did highlight a concerning drop in firearms seizures. Compared to the same period in the previous year, there has been a 21-percent decrease in gun recoveries, where NOPD seized 1,236 firearms in 2025, down from 1,567 in 2024. While the NOPD did not expand upon the reasons behind the decrease in their report, it is a statistic worth noting amidst ongoing national discussions about gun violence and policing…