Mother of slain comedian says NOPD has not reached out to her about son’s murder

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Sherilyn Price, the mother of slain comedian Brandon “Boogie B” Montrell, lamented a lack of communication on the part of NOPD regarding her son’s homicide case and says that she was informed by the District Attorney’s Office that a person recently arrested may not be a “viable suspect after all” in a statement through her lawyer.

Jame Hartman & Associates, who are representing Price, made the statement available Wednesday (Jan. 18) morning.

“I was informed of Brandon’s murder when a reporter called me,” Price said. “Victims’ survivors are supposed to be informed when an arrest is made, and NOPD publicly bragged of making an arrest in Brandon’s case. They didn’t tell me, and yesterday the D.A.’s staff told me that the arrestee may not actually be a viable suspect. I have yet to hear from anyone at NOPD. Was this a public relations show?”

Price also said that the only city official to speak to her about her son’s murder was Councilman Oliver Thomas and claims that the councilman’s attempts to get NOPD to contact her were also unsuccessful.

“I came from a place where state and city services worked to bring people out of poverty, to prevent criminal behavior, and to support families,” Price said. “New Orleans could and should be such a place. Until it is, until serious change is made, no one is safe.”

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• Comedian Brandon ‘Boogie B’ Montrell identified as man slain outside New Orleans grocery store
• Man, woman, car sought in killing of New Orleans comedian Brandon ‘Boogie B’ Montrell

Montrell, 43, was fatally shot on Dec. 23 outside of a Warehouse District grocery store. Family members say that he had been living in Los Angeles pursuing a career in entertainment and had returned to his hometown of New Orleans to spend Christmas with his mother and grandmother in Slidell. The NOPD says that Montrell was fatally shot inside a vehicle parked in the lot of the Baronne Street Rouses location and was an unintended target of two suspects that fled from the scene.

On Jan. 5 U.S. Marshals from New Orleans and Houston arrested 20-year-old Jabril Cowart in Texas as a suspect in the homicide.

READ MORE Suspect arrested in connection with murder of Brandon ‘Boogie B’ Montrell

Montrell was a graduate of Bonnabel High School and attended Delgado Community college. He was a budding comedian with a growing following on social media related to a video he produced for the New Orleans “Hood History” series focused on comedic depictions of New Orleans figures, places, and culture.

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