New Orleans Man Killed After Attempting To Sell Dirt Bike On Social Media

What started as a missing persons case turned tragic when the body of a New Orleans man was found in his abandoned vehicle on Monday morning (March 8). Investigators said the victim had gone to meet up with someone he met online in order to sell his dirt bike.

According to Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto, the body of 29-year-old Joseph Vindel was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the 2300 block of Coliseum Street in the Garden District, WWL-TV reports. He had reportedly gone to meet up with someone he had met on a social media marketplace to sell his dirt bike.

During the investigation, which originally started as a missing person case, FOX 8 reports, officers determined that Vindel and Jalen Harvey met between 10 a.m. and noon on Sunday to sell the bike. Investigators say Harvey shot and killed Vindel during this time. They claim Harvey then drove Vindel's vehicle to Coliseum Street and left it there with Vindel's body still inside.

On Monday, police arrested 20-year-old Harvey, of Jefferson Parish, at an apartment on Manhattan Boulevard, WWL-TV reports. Vindel's dirt bike was found nearby. Lopinto said Harvey admitted to shooting Vindel and abandoning his car in New Orleans.

Lopinto said the department is seeking a first-degree murder charge against Harvey.

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