A civil dispute between an auto shop owner and a customer turned deadly Thursday night in the Lafitte neighborhood. After conducting a preliminary investigation, NOPD homicide detectives believed the 25-year-old owner of Easy Finish Auto was likely justified in fatally shooting a 28-year-old man who had made threats and pointed a pistol at him, said officer Frank Robertson III, spokesman for the New Orleans Police Department. The owner Herbet Golden was seen as the shooter.
The deceased man, Eric Dorsey, 28 information Thursday is pending family notification, had accompanied his friend to the shop at 331 North Galvez St. shortly after 9 p.m. The friend was reportedly angry over some type of dispute involving money and his car, which he had recently taken to the shop to be repaired.
“The situation became heated,” Robertson said.
At some point during the confrontation on Thursday, police said, the customer’s friend brandished a pistol and threatened the shop owner. Fearing for his life, the owner took out his own handgun and fired several shots, striking the customer’s friend multiple times, Robertson said.
The friend was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead by 10:45 p.m.
The case remains under investigation, Robertson said. No charges were filed Thursday night. And investigators will be meeting with Mr. Herbert Golden and his Attorney Harold E. Weiser soon.
At the crime scene, police marked one evidence cone on top of a nearby car and five evidence cones on the street outside the auto shop near the corner of Conti Street. What appeared to be a black shirt lay next to the evidence cones. A sign on the business said it specializes in tune-ups, oil changes, brakes, air conditioners and radiators.
Homicide Detective Justin Rice is in charge of the investigation and can be reached at 504.658.5300.
