Solomon Street homicide

A worker cuts a piece of pipe as crews repair the corner where a car struck a fire hydrant Sunday morning and flipped over after being fired upon by an unknown shooter. One woman was killed and four others were shot, the NOPD said.

New Orleans Police have arrested Chante Mark, 24, in connection with the killing of a 29-year-old woman who died after being shot as she drove away from a fight at the Shamrock Bar on South Carrollton Avenue early Sunday morning.

Raven Francis died after the car she and four others were in crashed into a fire hydrant and flipped over at Baudin and South Solomon Streets just before 3 a.m. Police said someone had fired gunshots at the car as it drove away.

Francis was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries. Fourth others were treated at the scene.

The NOPD said investigators found Mark at a hotel in Chalmette Wednesday morning. Mark is currently in the St. Bernard Parish Jail as a fugitive from Orleans Parish, the NOPD said.

The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are imminent, the NOPD said.

The Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office refused a second-degree murder case against Mark in September of 2023.

Mark was booked in that case for her alleged involvement in the March 2023 killing of her ex-boyfriend, 19-year-old Darron Meilleur. Police said in court records that Mark was identifiable in surveillance footage near the scene of Meilleur's killing.

The district attorney's office didn't immediately respond to questions on why those charges were refused.

Email Chad Calder at ccalder@theadvocate.com.