A New Orleans family is remembering a girl who lost her life far too soon. Lee’lani Brooks was in the wrong place at the wrong time when she was shot and killed. While she lost her life, she did so because she was trying to protect her sibling. Thankfully, the girl was able to get the other child to safety, which many are praising her for. Sadly, she ended up being declared brain-dead from her injuries. Now, two men have been arrested in connection with her death.
On Monday, May 19, 2025, the New Orleans coroner confirmed the death of Lee’lani Brooks, WWL-TV reported. The 9-year-old girl had been declared brain-dead, and her family made the difficult decision to take her off life support.
Brooks was outside her home playing on Monday, May 12. Suddenly, gunfire began, sending the girl and her mother, Letisha Johnson, running into the house. As the girl rushed upstairs, she was shot in the head through a window while trying to get her little sister to safety. She was taken to the hospital, but doctors didn’t expect her to survive.
“I just want everyone to remember my baby for who she was,” Johnson told WVUE at a vigil for her daughter. The mom described her daughter as a girly girl who liked nail polish, makeup, and dancing.
But the family also wants Lee’lani Brooks to be remembered for the way she stepped up to save her family. “That’s what we want the world to remember her as, a hero, someone who was so selfless at 9 years old,” community activist Mike Willis told the news outlet.
To cover the unexpected funeral costs, Brooks’ parents started a GoFundMe. In the post, Johnson says that her “sweet, vibrant” daughter “was a leader and ensured all her younger family members were protected. Her smile is unforgettable, and her personality was infectious.”
According to police, two men have been arrested in connection with the shooting. Evans Rogers, 19, was arrested by New Orleans police after a four-hour standoff at a hotel in Terrytown. Police say that Rogers and another man, 22-year-old Devante Traylor, began firing at another group of men, who returned the fire. Because Brooks died, both men are facing murder charges.
