18-year-old gunned down the day before leaving for the Air Force. Nine years later, police have yet to make an arrest

Jaquon Pittman had answered the call to serve in the U.S. Airforce. 

The day before his departure to stand his post, the 18-year-old was at the 2400 block of Arts Street in New Orleans when he was shot multiple times. The shooting around 1:45 p.m. on July 10, 2012. 

Nine years later, officials still have few answers about why and who cut his life short. His case has gone cold. 

Pittman had been chatting with his girlfriend at the backyard of the house next to his grandmother’s residence when he was gunned down, according to Officer Gary Flot, a New Orleans PD spokesperson who spoke to local media.

He died on the scene while his girlfriend was treated at the hospital for a bullet graze wound on her arm. 

 A witness who lived around the corner on North Rocheblave Street, said he heard rapid shots that sounded like firecrackers. The incident happened just six days after Independence Day. 

Pittman, was a graduate of Salmen High School with a 3.0 GPA throughout his tenure at the institution. After his graduation, he also enrolled at the University of New Orleans as a freshman, according to his mother Becky P. Graham who spoke to Fox8 News. 

She described him as a kind and hearted young man who never deserved what happened to him.

 "He was shot in that yard 15 times by some thugged-out assailants and we want answers," Graham told the news channel a year after his death.

The police still don’t have any suspects or persons of interest to help investigators solve the gruesome murder that has kept Jaquon’s family with many questions unanswered, even nine years later. 

Initially, CrimeStoppers had offered a reward for $2,500 for anyone who has any information that will help solve Jaquon’s murder. The offer is now doubled to $5,000.  

Anyone with information on Pittman’s cold case is asked to call the New Orleans police at (504) 821-2222.  If you prefer to remain anonymous and be eligible for up to the $5,000 reward, contact CrimeStoppers at (504) 822-1111.