Nigerian born Naturalized American Air Force Veteran, MICHAEL NWOKORIE found Dead inside New Orleans’ Park Lagoon
…Mysterious circumstances behind demise under law enforcement investigation
*25-year-old graduated in Health Sciences from the University of St. Augustine, a 2017 graduate of East Ascension High School in Gonzales
*Deceased was a med school student who had a job in Denver
*Unfulfilled dream: Victim was a sociology major student at LSU since 2019 and planned to continue his studies in the fall semester
*Nigerian community, friends, family mourn, Tributes pour in on social media
*BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU/AMERICA Senior Investigative Editor/Reporting LIVE from New Orleans, NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER
NIGERIAN COMMUNITY IN NEW ORLEANS are presently mourning the death of a 25-year-old Nigerian born Naturalized American retired Air Force veteran, found dead inside an Audubon Park lagoon a few days ago. His body was recovered by fire crews in front of dozens of onlookers around 8:30 a.m. Mourning this huge loss also were friends and family members of the victim.
The family says Nwokorie was a great guy; a med school student with a job in Denver. He had plans to start fresh and was just days from his birthday.
According to social media accounts, Nwokorie attended the University of St. Augustine, a graduate health sciences school with campuses in California, Texas, and Florida. He was an Air Force veteran and a 2017 graduate of East Ascension High School in Gonzales.
Nwokorie was a sociology major who was a student at LSU since 2019 and planned to continue his studies in the fall semester.
“This is a profound loss for Michael’s family, friends, and all who knew him at LSU,” the university said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
Tributes began to pour in on social media Monday morning, with loved ones sending prayers to Nwokorie’s family in Nigeria.
“He’s talented. He’s getting his medical degree. He was in the military,” one friend Cameron Robillard remembered. “On paper, that is what I define as an American.”
The New Orleans Police Department is investigating the death as “unclassified.” The parish coroner confirmed Nwokorie’s identity on Monday but listed the cause and manner of death still under investigation.
A spokesperson for the Coroner’s Office says that it typically takes two months to fully determine the cause of death. The NOPD says that their involvement in the case depends on whether the coroner determines any criminal actions in Nwokorie’s cause of death.
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