NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – The New Orleans music community is grieving the loss of a beloved Grammy-award winning musician who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run earlier this week. A secondline was held Wednesday night in honor of Kerry “Fat Man” Hunter, with another being held on Thursday at Hunter’s Field.
Hunter’s band members with Kinfolk Brass Band and his wife spoke with WDSU’s Shay O’Connor about his significant impact in the community. Hunter was a prominent figure in the music scene, having been part of the Kinfolk Brass Band, the Preservation Hall Brass, and Nightcrawlers. The hit-and-run occurred on North Claiborne and Pauger streets Monday night going into Mardi Gras Day morning.
Jeremy Lindsey, 21, was arrested in connection with the incident on Tuesday. Lindsey, a student and basketball player at Xavier University, now faces charges of vehicular homicide and hit-and-run driving. Sources inform WDSU that Lindsey may have been intoxicated at the time of the accident, although he is not currently facing any DWI charges. The Orleans Parish Coroner confirmed Hunter’s preliminary cause of death as blunt force injuries, with Hunter’s place of death listed as the Claiborne Avenue/Interstate 10 on-ramp, more than two blocks from where he was struck.
Xavier University responded to the incident, stating that the student involved was not participating in any university activity at the time. The university spokesperson expressed deep sadness and offered condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Hunter. The university made it clear that the incident was not related to any university activity, thus refraining from further comments on the matter.
The tragic event has left a profound impact on the New Orleans music community, with Hunter’s legacy and contributions to the music scene being celebrated and honored in the wake of his untimely passing. The loss of the beloved musician has prompted an outpouring of grief and solidarity among fellow musicians and fans, as they mourn the loss of a true musical pioneer.