Holly MatkinHouston, TX – New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Detective Everett Briscoe was fatally shot on Sunday while dining with friends at a Houston restaurant.
The 41-year-old off-duty detective was enjoying a meal on the outdoor patio of the Grotto Ristorante at approximately 5:17 p.m. on Aug. 22 when two hooded gunmen walked up to the group and demanded they hand over their belongings, WVUE reported.
The group complied with their demands, but one of the suspects opened fire anyway, witnesses said.
The bullets struck Det. Briscoe and one other victim, WVUE reported.
Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club President Elroy James said the group was in town to celebrate their Zulu brotherhood, according to WVUE.
James said he had just left them at the restaurant to run an errand minutes before he received a call about the shooting.
“They shot him in the head,” he heard when he answered the phone, according to KPRC. “You need to come back.”
James said he immediately headed back to the restaurant.
“I saw brothers apply pressure to wounds. I saw brothers encouraging fallen brothers to hold on. I heard brothers calling 911 dialing many on the phone saying you’re not getting here fast enough,” he told WVUE. “We did all we could.”
Det. Briscoe died from his wounds.
His friend, DJ Riculfy, remains hospitalized in critical condition in a local intensive care unit, James said.
Police have not arrested anyone in connection with the shooting, WVUE reported.
James said nothing was taken from the victims during the attack.
“I want to talk to Houston today. We’re better than this,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said during a press briefing outside the restaurant. “We’re not going to let a few little thugs tear down our city…Somebody knows them. And I want everybody in every neighborhood to stand up and give us some information so we can get these individuals in custody.”
NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson announced the veteran detective’s death on Sunday.
“We’re here today to more or less to confirm…..confirm the loss of one of our own,” an emotional Superintendent Ferguson said, according to WVUE. “We lost a good one.”
New Orleans Councilmember Jay Banks said he went to Det. Briscoe’s home to speak with his wife and two children after hearing about his murder.
The slain detective’s sons are 10 years old and 16 years old, WFAA reported.
“Y’all, I got to tell you, I’m about tired of doing this,” Banks told WVUE. “I was at the house last night, and [Det. Briscoe’s son] Nick started his senior year. [Det. Briscoe’s wife] is asking me who’s going to teach them how to tie his tie? There was no answer because the only answer she wanted to hear was Everett’s going to walk through the door but he’s not. This cancer of senseless violence has to stop.”
“We all loved Everett and we owe it to his memory to do what we can to make sure his family gets the support he needs,” the councilmember said.
James described Det. Briscoe as “a gentle giant guy” who was “huge in stature but was soft-spoken.”
“Everybody loved him,” James told WVUE. “He was just a good guy.”
Det. Briscoe served the NOPD for 13 years.
He recently enrolled at Southern University, where he planned to complete a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Superintendent Ferguson told WFAA.
“He wanted to be an example to his sons, so he had to finish what he started,” the chief said.
DEVELOPING: Veteran New Orleans homicide detective identified as victim of Houston homicide on patio of Grotto restaurant on Westheimer
Houston police say Everett Briscoe, 41, was shot and killed Saturday. See KFDM Facebook and #KFDM #FOX4 pic.twitter.com/EaKzfTuFyC
— KFDM News (@kfdmnews) August 22, 2021
UPDATE: Surveillance photos of 2 black male suspects and wanted vehicle, a silver/gray Nissan Altima with paper tags. They are wanted in this fatal shooting of an off-duty @NOPDNews officer.
Please call HPD Homicide 713-308-3600 with info or give tip for reward to @CrimeStopHOU https://t.co/Xatung6LDN pic.twitter.com/jBFhsK82yC
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) August 22, 2021
Detective Everett Briscoe pic.twitter.com/TuKvYRxukK
— NOPD (@NOPDNews) August 22, 2021
NOW: A second line down Broad Street for late Det. Everett Briscoe.
The 13-year @NOPDNews veteran died in a shooting Saturday while off-duty in Houston. @wdsu pic.twitter.com/0JiSMihqua
— Harrison Golden (@HarrisonWDSU) August 22, 2021
I am extremely heartbroken about the death of my dear friend and brother Detective Everette Briscoe who was killed while off-duty in Houston, Texas. I am praying for the family of Det. Briscoe and for the family of the second victim in this incident.
— NOPD Chief Shaun Ferguson (@NOPDChief) August 22, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of New Orleans Police Department Detective Everett Briscoe, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
