Body Found in Submerged Vehicle at New Orleans Golf Course

NEW ORLEANS, LA — A body was discovered Monday, April 28, in a submerged vehicle at the Joseph Bartholomew Golf Course in Pontchartrain Park, New Orleans police reported. The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office identified the victim as Patrick Prosper, 24. Preliminary findings indicated he died from a gunshot wound.

The recovery operation took place around 4 p.m. as officials pulled a white Lexus sedan from the lagoon, which serves as a water hazard on the course. Video footage captured by WWL Louisiana confirmed the presence of a body inside the vehicle.

Initially, the New Orleans Police Department classified the case as an “unclassified death.” However, on Wednesday, the coroner’s office’s preliminary ruling categorized the death as a homicide. Details about the time the vehicle was submerged or how it ended up in the water have not yet been released.

Homicide detectives worked within a perimeter set by crime scene tape at the golf course, located near Press Drive and Emmett W. Bashful Boulevard. Investigators are seeking additional evidence in the ongoing case.

This investigation continues, and police have not disclosed further information about how the incident occurred or any possible suspects. The community is urged to stay informed as more updates become available.