Society Editor
By Tolu Adesuwa Igiehon
A Nigerian family in New Orleans has been thrown into mourning after a tragic domestic incident that left a 75-year-old father dead and two daughters wounded. Police say the attacker was the man’s 29-year-old son, who relatives say has battled mental health challenges for years.
The suspect, Chukwuebuka Eweni, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder following the violent episode at their home on Pebble Drive in New Orleans East on Tuesday night.
The victim, Professor Samuel Eweni, was a respected academic at the Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), where he taught computer science. Authorities confirmed he died at the scene, while his two daughters were rushed to the hospital with stab wounds. One of them has since been discharged, and the other remains under medical care but is expected to recover.
Family members who spoke with U.S. media outlets said Chukwuebuka had a long history of mental illness but had never shown violent behavior. They described the day of the incident as completely normal until the sudden attack, and say they still do not understand what triggered the violence.
After the stabbing, the suspect reportedly went to New Orleans East Hospital, a facility he frequently visited for mental health support. Unaware of the crime he had allegedly committed, hospital staff transferred him to another center in Jefferson Parish. It was there that law enforcement tracked him down and made the arrest on Wednesday morning.
SUNO, where Dr. Eweni spent years shaping young minds, issued a heartfelt tribute. Chancellor Dr. Joseph Bouie Jr. described him as “a mentor, a guide, and an inspiration to countless students,” noting that his legacy would continue to influence the institution.
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Nigerian Woman in Texas Charged After Daughter Dies in Hot Car
In a separate tragedy involving a Nigerian family in the U.S., a 36-year-old woman, Gbemisola Akayinode, is facing a felony murder charge after her nine-year-old daughter died from extreme heat earlier this year.
According to investigators, the incident occurred on July 1 at an industrial complex in Galena Park, near Houston. Akayinode allegedly left her daughter, Oluwasikemi, inside a parked car for more than eight hours while she worked a shift at a nearby manufacturing plant. Temperatures that day reached 99°F (37°C).
Although she reportedly left snacks, water, a small fan, and partially opened windows, the child could not survive the intense heat. When Akayinode returned to the vehicle shortly before 2 p.m., she found her daughter unconscious. The girl was later pronounced dead at LBJ Hospital.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled the death a homicide caused by hyperthermia. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced Akayinode’s arrest on October 17, noting that homicide detectives and the county’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team carried out the operation.
Court documents reveal Akayinode had often brought her daughter to work due to childcare difficulties, although investigators say her supervisor had actually been helping cover daycare costs. She reportedly told authorities she gave the girl melatonin the night before and again on the morning of the incident, and at one point blamed prescription medication for her daughter’s condition.
Both incidents have once again sparked discussions about mental health, parental stress, and the vulnerabilities faced by immigrant families navigating life in the U.S.
