White Artist Killed on Bicycle in Hit-and-Run by Black Driver

Nola
July 17, 2015

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Ben Gregory was out innocently riding his bike, when a Black came up behind him in a car and flattened him.

New Orleans police confirmed an arrest Monday (July 13) in connection with the July 6hit-and-run that killed artist and cyclist Ben Gregory.

The surrender of suspect Curtis Joseph Turner, 45, was arranged Monday by his attorney, Branden Villavaso, according to a law enforcement source. Turner was booked with one count of manslaughter and one count of felony hit-and-run. The arrest, first reported by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune at 4:19 p.m., was confirmed one hour later in an NOPD news release.

Turner, who investigators believe struck Gregory from behind as he rode a bicycle July 6 around 10:25 p.m. in the 600 block of Elysian Fields Avenue, had parked his damaged Pontiac Vibe at a house in the 2700 block of Delery Street in the Lower 9th Ward. A Crimestoppers tip helped lead investigators to the vehicle, police said.

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Curtis Joseph Turner did not bother to stop, but fled the scene of the killing.

Gregory, 37, sold paintings at multiple art galleries in the city, in the French Quarter and at the Frenchmen Street Art Market, where he recently had completed a mural.

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