June 1, 2026

NEW ORLEANS — The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office announced that two convicted murderers were sentenced to life imprisonment last week in separate homicide cases, bringing a measure of justice to the families of Jarrod Miles and Aurrel Brown and reinforcing the Office’s commitment to holding violent offenders accountable.

The sentences marked the culmination of years of investigative and prosecutorial work and reflected the determination of law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocates, and the victims’ families who remained committed to seeing justice served.

“Every homicide leaves behind a family forever changed by violence,” said District Attorney Jason Williams. “While no sentence can restore what was taken from the loved ones of Jarrod Miles and Aurrel Brown, these outcomes ensured that the individuals responsible were held accountable for their actions.”

On October 9, 2022, Jarrod Miles was shot multiple times in the 1900 block of Port Street. After being wounded, Miles sought help at a nearby business before being transported to University Medical Center (UMC), where he later died from his injuries.

The investigation by the New Orleans Police Department Homicide Unit combined surveillance footage, public tips, witness information, and forensic evidence to identify Earl Sylvester as the perpetrator.

Investigators recovered surveillance video showing a silver Hyundai Elantra arriving in the area moments before the shooting. The footage captured Sylvester exiting the vehicle armed with a handgun and running in the direction of Miles. Shortly afterward, Sylvester returned to the vehicle, which fled the scene.

Following a jury trial, Sylvester was convicted on April 10, 2026, of Second Degree Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Obstruction of Justice. On May 29, 2026, Judge Buras sentenced him to life imprisonment for Second Degree Murder, along with an additional 10 years for the firearm conviction and 20 years for Obstruction of Justice.

Assistant District Attorney Corbin Bates, who prosecuted both cases, emphasized the collaborative effort required to secure justice.

“The successful convictions in both of these tragic cases are a direct result of the relentless dedication of our homicide detectives and the crucial partnership we have with our community,” Bates said. “These outcomes were secured by combining classic, determined police work with modern forensic technology, from ballistics to digital evidence. It sends a clear message: we will use every resource at our disposal to ensure that those who commit senseless acts of violence on our streets are identified, apprehended, and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our city is safer with these individuals behind bars, and we hope these verdicts bring some measure of closure to the families of Mr. Miles and Mr. Brown.”

On November 29, 2021, Aurrel Brown was fatally shot in a parking lot along Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans East. Responding officers located Brown suffering from multiple gunshot wounds near his bicycle. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Witnesses reported seeing a black Ford Mustang fleeing the area immediately after gunfire erupted. Through witness interviews, surveillance video, search warrants, and cellular location data, investigators identified Lenton VanBuren as the suspect.

 

Detectives recovered surveillance footage that captured the suspect vehicle before and after the shooting and located a Ford Mustang matching the distinctive characteristics observed on video. Evidence recovered during the investigation, including cell phone records, placed VanBuren at the scene of the homicide and along the route traveled by the fleeing vehicle.

 

VanBuren’s case followed a lengthy path through the criminal justice system that included his escape from the Orleans Justice Center in May 2025. Following his recapture and return to custody, prosecutors continued pursuing accountability in Brown’s murder, ultimately securing a conviction and the life sentence imposed last week.

 

On May 28, 2026, Judge Pittman sentenced VanBuren to life imprisonment for Second Degree Murder.

 

“These cases demonstrated the persistence required to investigate, prosecute, and ultimately secure justice in homicide cases,” Williams added. “Whether justice comes months or years later, our responsibility remains the same: to pursue the truth, support victims’ families, and hold those who commit violence accountable for the harm they cause.”

Both cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Corbin Bates with critical support from Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Cleary, Victim Witness Advocate Melissa Lewis, Trial Assistant Alecia Richards, and Investigator Basil Trepagnier. Their collective efforts, alongside the work of New Orleans Police Department homicide detectives and support personnel, helped secure accountability for the families of Jarrod Miles and Aurrel Brown and ultimately led to the successful resolution of both cases.

 

The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office extends its gratitude to the New Orleans Police Department investigators, victim advocates, support staff, and community members whose efforts contributed to the successful resolution of both cases.