A dispute over an abandoned house on Banks Street in New Orleans escalated into gunfire last weekend, leaving neighbors shocked and prompting questions about vigilantism and city blight.
Neighbor Arrested After Shooting Over Abandoned House
Bruce Lovelace, a Tulane Medical School professor and psychiatrist, was arrested after allegedly shooting a 40-year-old man outside a deteriorating blue house at 3217 Banks Street. Police charged Lovelace with aggravated battery and illegal use of a firearm. The victim survived and received medical attention at University Medical Center.
Tensions in the Neighborhood
Weeks before the shooting, residents received leaflets asking them to contact the man listed as responsible for the property, Carlos Liriano, about the house’s condition. Neighbors said the house had become a hub for drug use, trash accumulation, and minor theft. One neighbor even reported seeing a fire in the backyard.
“This earlier crowd was chill,” said Javiron Thompson, an IT worker living nearby. “But with these new faces, I come home and I wonder if my door’ll be kicked in.”
Residents, frustrated by months of inaction, petitioned the city for help. Lovelace, who lives across from the property, had been one of the most persistent complainers, making multiple police calls and checking the property in person.
The Shooting Incident
The confrontation escalated late Saturday night. Witnesses reported a verbal dispute outside the bungalow followed by a gunshot. An onlooker helped the wounded man with a makeshift tourniquet before emergency responders arrived. Police found a loaded pistol with a spent casing in Lovelace’s home.
The victim told detectives that the conflict began when someone poured gasoline on the porch, leading to a physical struggle in which the gun discharged. Lovelace bonded out of jail the following Tuesday. Tulane placed him on administrative leave while reviewing the case.
A Complicated Property and City Response
The abandoned house has long been a source of tension. Residents described it as a “crack house” and blamed a mix of squatting, drugs, and blight for the problems. The property’s ownership is tangled in an estate dispute, and city inspectors reported few violations during a May 5 visit.
New Orleans has taken steps to address blight and homelessness, including demolitions and sheltering programs. However, budget cuts and slow bureaucratic processes have frustrated residents, sometimes pushing them to take matters into their own hands.
“I just feel like this happened because these people are being pushed to the edge of society,” said barista Levonne Czako, who lives nearby.
Neighborhood Reaction
Neighbors were unsettled that someone with a professional and mental health background may have used a gun in what appeared to be a vigilante action. “I was more worried about the man with the gun than what was going on in that house,” said Joy Watson, who lives nearby.
The abandoned house remains quiet, with caution tape and warning signs posted to deter trespassers. Residents continue to watch closely, hoping the city will finally resolve the long-standing blight issues.
This incident highlights the complex challenges cities face with abandoned properties, homelessness, and community safety—and how frustration can sometimes lead to dangerous confrontations.
