New Orleans explodes in black on black murders.

There have been 19 murders over the past 18 days in New Orleans.

WWL-TV crime analyst Jeff Asher says it’s the bloodiest stretch of time in the city since 2010.

“To be having a stretch that is equaling what we had six years ago when murder was much more prevalent is obviously not a positive sign,” Asher said.

NOPD Deputy Chief Paul Noel called it a spike in violent crime, not a long term trend.

“These cases most likely involve individuals that chose to engage in illegal activity,” Noel said. “They chose to make decisions that put them at risk to being victims of violent crime.”

The fact that most of these killings are not random acts, comes as little comfort to people who live in neighborhoods affected by the violence. READ MORE...