In a shocking turn of events, Ian Kersting, a New Orleans prosecutor, was found lifeless in his office, in what authorities suspect to be a suicide.
The 34-year-old Assistant District Attorney, who had a specialization in sexual assault cases, was discovered dead from an "apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound," as per the New Orleans Police Department's Major Offense Log.
The tragic incident unfolded at the Orleans Parish District Attorney's office building, located at 619 South White Street, just a stone's throw away from the bustling Bourbon Street. The grim discovery was made around 9pm on Saturday, as reported by The Independent. Kersting was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, according to the police.
The sudden demise of Kersting has left his colleagues at the New Orleans DA's Office in a state of profound grief. "The Orleans Parish DA's Office family suffered a terrible tragedy Saturday night," the office expressed in a statement to WVUE. "Assistant District Attorney Ian Kersting was a beloved member of our office, and we send our love and deepest condolences to his family."
In the aftermath of this tragic event, the DA's office is anticipated to remain closed on Monday to allow the team to seek assistance from grief and trauma counselors. Normal operations are expected to resume on Tuesday.
Kersting was a key figure in the office's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative unit, where he collaborated with NOPD detectives to investigate and prosecute sex crimes cases using recovered DNA evidence. His commitment to justice was evident in his recent involvement in the conviction of a sex offender guilty of attempted first-degree rape and indecent behavior in March 2024.
The Orleans Parish DA lauded the successful outcome of the case, stating, "The joint efforts of ADA Michelle Jones (SVU) and Ian Kersting (SAKI), alongside Investigator Ronnie Puigh (SVU), Project Manager Sydney Houlemard (SVU), and Trial Assistant Daphne Carroll (SVU), led to a significant verdict. The successful outcome underscores the dedication and skill of our team in pursuing justice for the most vulnerable members of our community."
Kersting's legal prowess was also on display in November 2022, when he served as the lead prosecutor in the conviction of Anthony Jones for the 2016 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Renata Vaughn, in New Orleans' 7th Ward neighborhood. Jones was found guilty of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice following a gruesome crime where Vaughn was stabbed 72 times with a flat head screwdriver in front of her children before her house was set on fire.
Williams, in a statement, expressed gratitude for the hard work of Kersting and his team on the difficult case. This conviction came just over two years after Kersting was admitted to the Louisiana bar in October 2020.
The Independent has reached out to the Orleans Parish DA's Office and the NOPD for additional information regarding this tragic incident.
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