Campus Alert Archive
Tulane

Fatal shooting at a public library near the downtown campus; suspect arrested

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LAaggravated assaulttimely warninghigh confidence
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Confirmed Threat

On April 7, 2023, two non-Tulane individuals fought over a firearm at the New Orleans Public Library near Tulane's downtown campus, 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. 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.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
1
Injured
0
Institution
Tulane University
Private R1 · LA
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Official alert policy
Read when and how Tulane says it will use TU Alert (Everbridge): summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatim1600 chars
Subject: Safety Notice – Aggravated Assault by Shooting – Downtown Campus – Off-Campus Offense: Aggravated Assault Date: April 7, 2023 Content Warning: This notification includes information related to an aggravated assault by shooting in our area. Today, 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. The 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. Please Remember These Safety Tips • Be aware of your surroundings. • Whenever possible, travel well-lit, busy routes. • Be aware of signs and triggers of an escalating conflict such as: o Clenching of fists or jaw; o Sudden change in body language or tone; For Counseling and other Supportive Measures, click here. To learn more about campus safety services and programs, click here.
Verify this quote
TUPD Safety Notice PDF (Aggravated Assault by Shooting 04/07/23)publicsafety.tulane.edufind archived copies
Corrected to full PDF text layer from TUPD crime-alerts archive.
Preserves official typo “altercation the became physical”. Soft PDF line wraps joined.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

Subject: Safety Notice – Aggravated Assault by Shooting – Downtown Campus – Off-Campus Offense: Aggravated Assault Date: April 7, 2023 Content Warning: This notification includes information related to an aggravated assault by shooting in our area. Today, 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. The 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. Please Remember These Safety Tips • Be aware of your surroundings. • Whenever possible, travel well-lit, busy routes. • Be aware of signs and triggers of an escalating conflict such as: o Clenching of fists or jaw; o Sudden change in body language or tone; For Counseling and other Supportive Measures, click here. To learn more about campus safety services and programs, click here.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous: 'Tulane University Police Department' identifies the issuing authority.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'Tulane University Police Department learned'
    2. present: Tulane University Police Department is named as the source.
    3. present: 'Tulane University Police Department learned'
    4. present: 'Tulane University Police Department' identifies the issuing authority.
    5. present: 'Tulane University Police Department' named
    6. present: Signed 'Tulane University Police Department'.
    7. present: References 'Tulane University Police Department'.
    8. present: 'Tulane University Police Department learned' identifies the authority.
    9. present: 'Tulane University Police Department'
    10. present: Tulane University Police Department named as investigating authority.
    11. present: Tulane University Police Department learned
    12. present: 'Tulane University Police Department' identifies the sender.
    13. present: 'Tulane University Police Department' named as source.
    14. present: Signed by "Tulane University Police Department".
    15. present: 'Tulane University Police Department learned'
    16. present: 'Tulane University Police Department learned'.
    17. present: Names 'Tulane University Police Department'
    18. present: 'Tulane University Police Department' explicitly named as sender.
    19. present: 'Tulane University Police Department' named as source.
    20. present: References "Tulane University Police Department" and "New Orleans Police Department".
    21. present: 'Tulane University Police Department' named as sender/authority.
    22. present: 'Tulane University Police Department' named.
    23. present: 'Tulane University Police Department' identified as source.
    24. present: Tulane University Police Department
    25. present: References 'Tulane University Police Department' and 'New Orleans Police Department'.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous: 'aggravated assault by shooting' names the specific hazard.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting'
    2. present: Names aggravated assault by shooting as the hazard.
    3. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting' names the hazard
    4. present: States 'aggravated assault by shooting'.
    5. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting'
    6. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting'.
    7. present: Names 'Aggravated Assault by Shooting'.
    8. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting' names the specific hazard.
    9. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting'
    10. present: 'Aggravated assault by shooting' named.
    11. present: aggravated assault by shooting
    12. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting' names the specific hazard.
    13. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting' named.
    14. present: "aggravated assault by shooting".
    15. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting'
    16. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting'.
    17. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting'
    18. present: 'Aggravated Assault by Shooting' names the hazard.
    19. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting'.
    20. present: States "aggravated assault by shooting".
    21. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting' names the hazard.
    22. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting' names the hazard.
    23. present: 'Aggravated Assault by Shooting' names hazard.
    24. present: Aggravated assault by shooting
    25. present: 'aggravated assault by shooting' names the hazard.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library' names the specific location.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'on Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'
    2. present: Names Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library.
    3. present: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'
    4. present: Names 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'.
    5. present: 'on Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'
    6. present: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'.
    7. present: Gives 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'.
    8. present: 'on Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library' names the location.
    9. present: 'on Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'
    10. present: Loyola Avenue in front of the library given.
    11. present: Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library
    12. present: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library' gives location.
    13. present: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library' given.
    14. present: "Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library".
    15. present: 'on Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'
    16. present: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'.
    17. present: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'
    18. present: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'.
    19. present: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'.
    20. present: Specifies "Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library".
    21. present: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library' names location.
    22. present: 'on Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library'.
    23. present: 'Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library' given.
    24. present: Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library
    25. present: 'on Loyola Avenue in front of the New Orleans Public Library.'
  • Guidancepresent22/25

    Final assessment

    A strong majority credit the safety tips ('Be aware of your surroundings,' 'travel well-lit, busy routes') as guidance; a small minority called them too generic, but most treat the specific tips as actionable direction.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'Be aware of your surroundings' and other safety tips
    2. present: Safety tips instruct awareness and traveling well lit, busy routes.
    3. present: Lists safety tips: 'Be aware of your surroundings'
    4. absent: Only general safety tips given, no specific protective action for this incident.
    5. present: Safety tips: 'Be aware of your surroundings'
    6. present: 'Be aware of your surroundings...travel well-lit, busy routes'.
    7. present: Gives safety tips like 'travel well-lit, busy routes'.
    8. present: 'Be aware of your surroundings...travel well-lit, busy routes'.
    9. present: 'Be aware of your surroundings... travel well-lit, busy routes'
    10. absent: Only generic safety tips, not an instruction for this specific event.
    11. present: Be aware of your surroundings...travel well-lit routes
    12. present: Provides safety tips such as being aware of surroundings and travel routes.
    13. present: Safety tips like 'travel well-lit, busy routes' given.
    14. present: "Be aware of your surroundings" and other safety tips.
    15. present: 'Be aware of your surroundings...travel well-lit, busy routes'
    16. present: 'Be aware of your surroundings' safety tips serve as guidance.
    17. present: Gives safety tips like 'Be aware of your surroundings'
    18. present: Provides safety tips like 'Be aware of your surroundings'.
    19. present: 'Be aware of your surroundings... travel well-lit, busy routes.'
    20. present: Provides safety tips like "Be aware of your surroundings".
    21. present: Provides safety tips such as 'travel well-lit, busy routes'.
    22. present: 'Be aware of your surroundings. Whenever possible, travel well-lit, busy routes.'
    23. present: Provides safety tips like 'Be aware of your surroundings'.
    24. present: Be aware of surroundings, travel well-lit routes
    25. absent: No protective action instructed to recipients, only general safety tips and report requests.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm' gives a precise date and time.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'
    2. present: Gives today, April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm.
    3. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'
    4. present: Gives 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'.
    5. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'
    6. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'.
    7. present: Gives 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'.
    8. present: 'at approximately 2:20 pm' on 'April 7, 2023' gives exact time.
    9. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'
    10. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm' gives exact time.
    11. present: April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm
    12. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm' gives date and time.
    13. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm' given.
    14. present: "April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm".
    15. present: 'at approximately 2:20 pm' on 'April 7, 2023'
    16. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'.
    17. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'
    18. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm' gives date and time.
    19. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'.
    20. present: Gives "April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm".
    21. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm' gives exact time.
    22. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm'.
    23. present: 'April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm' given.
    24. present: Today, April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm
    25. present: 'Today, April 7, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm' gives clock time/date.
  • Impactpresent23/25

    Final assessment

    A strong majority find 'the victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys real, severe harm; a small minority called it purely descriptive rather than a stated warning, but most read it as clearly conveying impact.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: 'the victim being shot twice in the chest'
    2. present: States the victim was shot twice in the chest, conveying actual harm.
    3. present: 'victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys severity of harm
    4. present: States 'the victim being shot twice in the chest'.
    5. absent: No stated ongoing danger, victim shot but no severity framing given
    6. present: 'the victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys severity/harm.
    7. present: States 'the victim being shot twice in the chest'.
    8. present: 'the victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys the harm caused.
    9. present: 'the victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys severe harm
    10. present: 'victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys severity of harm.
    11. present: victim being shot twice in the chest
    12. present: 'victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys the severity of harm.
    13. present: 'the victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys serious harm.
    14. present: "victim being shot twice in the chest" conveys severity.
    15. present: 'victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys severe harm
    16. present: 'the victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys explicit harm.
    17. absent: Describes 'victim being shot twice in the chest' as fact not stated severity/warning
    18. present: 'victim being shot twice in the chest' states the actual harm caused.
    19. present: 'the victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys severity of harm.
    20. present: States "victim being shot twice in the chest", conveying serious harm.
    21. present: 'victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys severe harm.
    22. present: 'victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys severity of harm.
    23. present: 'the victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys severity/harm.
    24. present: Victim shot twice in the chest describes harm
    25. present: 'the victim being shot twice in the chest' conveys severity of harm.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

On Friday, April 7, 2023, the Tulane University Department of Public Safety issued a Clery Act safety notice 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 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 reflects this notice in Clery-reportable categories.
Analysis

Key Findings

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
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.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    Safety Notice (Aggravated Assault by Shooting) Downtown Off-Campus 04/07/23 (Tulane)
    publicsafety.tulane.edu
    archived copy
  2. Official
    Crime Alerts (Tulane Public Safety)
    publicsafety.tulane.edu
    archived copy
  3. Clery ASR
    2023-2024 Tulane University Annual Security & Fire Safety Report
    publicsafety.tulane.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Tulane University: Fatal shooting at a public library near the downtown campus; suspect arrested." Incident of April 7, 2023. Added May 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/tulane-university-downtown-aggravated-assault-2023-04-07/

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Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
aggravated-assaultshootingtulaneprivate-r1louisianadowntown-campusclery-safety-noticeoff-campus
Added May 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion