New Orleans, Louisiana, was the backdrop for a life-altering incident three years ago when Noah Hansard took one of his customary late-night walks through the Lake Terrace neighborhood. Seeking solace in the tranquility of the night, Hansard never anticipated that his routine would end in violence.
As he strolled, two men wearing ski masks confronted him, stealing his phone and shooting him twice. The gunfire left Hansard paralyzed from the waist down, an event that has profoundly impacted his life since that fateful evening.
After enduring years of rehabilitation and grappling with legal challenges, Hansard hoped to see justice served in the trial of the two suspects involved in his case. However, the outcome did not meet his expectations. An Orleans Parish jury acquitted one defendant, Tata Say, while convicting the other, Cruz Matute, on lesser charges. Both men faced serious allegations of armed robbery and attempted first-degree murder.
Hansard reflected on the trial’s outcome, expressing his disappointment. “I always expect the worst so that you can never be disappointed,” he remarked. Despite his low expectations, he felt let down by the jury’s decision.
The lengthy process of seeking justice took a toll on Hansard and his mother, Elisabeth. They had collaborated closely with the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, providing critical details, preparing to testify, and attending numerous court hearings in their pursuit of accountability. Yet, as the trial progressed, Noah began to lose faith in the strength of the prosecution’s case.
“My faith faded as I observed the evidence, or the lack thereof,” he said. Key evidence, including bullet casings from the scene, was not processed for fingerprints or DNA in a timely manner, hindering the prosecution’s arguments.
Elisabeth Hansard shared her own frustrations, noting that assurances from the Chief of Trials at the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office did not translate into strong evidence during the trial.
In a statement addressing the delays in forensic testing, the office of District Attorney Jason Williams cited limited resources within the city. New Orleans’ crime lab is not set to be fully operational until 2027, and DNA analysis relies on outsourcing to state police or private labs at significant costs.
“Our community understands that solid evidence is vital to gain convictions,” Williams said. Yet, for the Hansards, the acknowledgment came too late.
Despite their willingness to consider a plea deal to alleviate the anxiety of a trial, no such offer was made. Instead, the prosecution leaned heavily on a phone that had been left at the scene, which allegedly contained incriminating images of Matute in a ski mask and messages linking him to Say.
Ultimately, after six hours of deliberation, the jury’s verdict fell short of delivering justice as both defendants received lesser charges. Say was acquitted on the most serious charges, while Matute was convicted only of attempted armed robbery and aggravated assault.
Reflecting on the verdict, Noah Hansard expressed frustration over the message it sent. “I guess I shot myself then,” he quipped, responding to a reporter’s observation that no one was found guilty of shooting him.
Now awaiting sentencing, Matute faces potential prison time of up to 50 years in Louisiana. Nevertheless, Elisabeth Hansard vowed to continue her advocacy for crime victims, undeterred by the trial’s disappointing outcome.
“This will settle with time, but I promise you, the same thing will happen to someone else in New Orleans,” she stated, highlighting the systemic challenges faced by victims seeking justice. “Living through this experience gives you a clearer understanding of the struggles we encounter.”
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