NATCHITOCHES, La. — A grieving mother is pleading for the public’s help nearly a year after her son was murdered.
Tirquessa Sowell Zeno, the mother of Marcus Sowell Jr., is asking the community to come forward with information about her son’s death.
Sowell, 23, was shot and killed Dec. 26 in the parking lot of the Onyx Wine and Cigar Lounge.
“Not hearing his voice, not getting knocks on the door, not getting phone calls — is hard,” Zeno said. “Seeing his two kids without their father is heartbreaking.”
She said her grandchildren continue to struggle with the loss of their father.
Natchitoches police have released a surveillance image of the suspected shooter, a man wearing a green camouflage jacket seen the night of the murder.
“He was shot and lost his life. Several people were in the crowd during the incident,” Natchitoches police Public Information Officer John Greely said. “We’ve interviewed countless witnesses, and we’re asking for anyone with information to come forward.”
Residents in the area have raised concerns about crime near the lounge.
“Since Onyx opened, we’ve felt unsafe — between the gunshots and the incidents around that club,” said Michael Morton, owner of Laughing Sam’s Discs, a neighboring business.
Raymond Willis, owner of Willis Service Center, echoed those concerns, adding, “The neighborhood’s overall safety has declined. I’m not saying it’s just Onyx, but it goes beyond that.”
Nicole Gray, owner of the Onyx Wine and Cigar Lounge, disputed some of the claims about the business.
“Sometimes, people gather outside who haven’t even come into the business,” Gray said. “I’m not aware of any vandalism, but we do everything we can to maintain the parking lots.”
Eight months after Sowell death, Zeno continues to seek justice for her son.
“It’s nothing more than calling in a tip, somebody say something,” she said. “There’s no way everything was caught on camera and nobody didn’t see anything.”
Natchitoches police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. A $3,000 reward is being offered for tips that lead to an arrest.
