Police said patrol officers conducting a traffic stop on West 70th Street heard several gunshots coming from the next street over about 3:30 a.m. Officers went to the 300 block of West 69th Street and found Messiah Demery, 27, of the 8000 block of Line Ave., shot once in the chest.

Demery was dead on arrival at LSU Hospital.

Police said Demery had been trying to rob two men -- Rodrigus Kennedy and Shamicheal Kennedy -- as they sat in a car in the driveway of the house. Rodrigus got a gun and shot Demery, police said.

The gun used in the shooting was located inside a house. Police said they also found some marijuana and arrested Rodrigus Kennedy on drug charges. He has not been charged in connection with the shooting of Demery; that part of the investigation is continuing, police said.