Crime
Two Arrested in Connection with Fatal Shooting of U.S. Army Veteran Colby Scheffler in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS, La. — Authorities have arrested two men in connection with the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Colby Scheffler, a U.S. Army veteran and Chalmette High School graduate, in New Orleans.
The suspects, identified as 18-year-old Julian Vicknair and 19-year-old Harry Darby, were apprehended with assistance from the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office (SBSO), officials confirmed.
According to Sheriff James Pohlmann, Darby, a resident of the 3000 block of Jean Lafitte Parkway in Chalmette, and Vicknair, of the 2800 block of Kenilworth Drive in Kenilworth, were both booked on charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
The arrests stem from a fatal shooting that occurred in the early hours of Sunday, April 6, in the 7700 block of Willow Street in New Orleans.
According to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), three individuals were driving in the area when gunfire erupted.
One of the occupants, later identified as Scheffler, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while the third individual was unharmed.
After receiving intelligence from NOPD suggesting the suspects may have been hiding in St. Bernard Parish, SBSO detectives from the Criminal Investigations Bureau, along with agents from the Special Investigations Division, launched an investigation and secured arrest warrants.
On Monday, April 7, both Darby and Vicknair were taken into custody without incident at a residence in the 2400 block of Riverbend Drive in Violet.
They were subsequently transported from the St. Bernard Parish Prison to the Orleans Justice Center for formal booking.
The NOPD’s Homicide Unit is leading the investigation with support from the Violent Offenders Warrant Squad (VOWS) and the Violent Crime Abatement Investigation Team (VCAIT). Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive, and the investigation remains active.
Law enforcement is encouraging anyone with information related to the case to come forward.
Tips can be submitted to the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501, the Criminal Investigations Bureau tip hotline at (504) 271-TIPS (8477), or Crimestoppers GNO at (504) 822-1111. Tipsters can choose to remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward through Crimestoppers.
Crime
Watch: Jeffrey Epstein survivors release video calling on Congress to release the Epstein files
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse have released a powerful public message calling on Congress to declassify and release all documents connected to Epstein, his crimes, and those who may have enabled or participated in his trafficking network.
In the video statement, survivors emphasize that across five presidential administrations, they have waited without answers, transparency, or meaningful accountability.
More than three decades after Epstein’s crimes first came to light, they say critical information remains sealed, redacted, or otherwise inaccessible to the public — including to those who suffered directly as a result of his actions.
“For thirty years, we have waited in silence and uncertainty,” the message states. “We deserve the truth. The world deserves the truth. The time has come to bring the secrets out of the shadows.”
The group is urging lawmakers to support the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a proposed measure that would require the federal government to release investigative records, court materials, and relevant agency files associated with Epstein, his associates, and public institutions connected to the case.
Advocates argue that releasing the full record will not only expose systemic failures but also help prevent future exploitation by revealing networks, complicity, and loopholes that enabled Epstein to operate with impunity for decades.
In their call to action, survivors are asking the public to contact their elected officials and demand full transparency.
The video concludes with a unified plea:
“We are demanding the release of all Epstein files. The time is now. Call your member of Congress and tell them to vote YES on the Epstein Files Transparency Act.”
The movement continues to gain momentum nationally, with growing public support and increasing pressure on lawmakers to act.
Further updates will be provided as legislative developments unfold.