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ALGIERS, NEW ORLEANS — A funeral meant to honor the life of a young man lost to violence turned into a shocking scene on Saturday afternoon, when a known gang affiliate allegedly punched the grieving mother of the deceased.
According to witnesses, DeAndre “Lil Dre” Coleman, 21, attended the service for his slain friend, Marcus Johnson, at a small church in Algiers. The service was packed with family, friends, and community members who had come to pay their respects.
As mourners gathered near the casket, Marcus’s mother, Angela Johnson, 46, reportedly made lingering eye contact with Coleman. Police say Coleman later told officers he felt she was “looking at him funny” and “disrespecting” him during the service.
Without warning, Coleman allegedly stepped forward and punched Angela Johnson in the face, knocking her to the ground in front of stunned relatives. Several attendees rushed to her aid while others restrained Coleman until officers arrived.
Angela Johnson suffered visible bruising but did not require hospitalization. “She was there mourning her son, and to be attacked like that is unthinkable,” said Rev. Samuel Carter, who was presiding over the funeral. “This should have been a moment of unity and healing, not violence.”
Coleman was taken into custody by the New Orleans Police Department and now faces charges of simple battery, disturbing the peace, and assault in a place of worship.
The incident has reignited conversations in the Algiers community about gang violence, respect, and the ongoing cycle of retaliation. Local leaders are calling for greater outreach programs to prevent young men from engaging in behavior that further traumatizes grieving families.
“This was supposed to be a day to celebrate Marcus’s life,” said a family friend. “Instead, it became another reminder of how broken things feel in our neighborhoods.”
