A tragic turn in the New Orleans music scene leaves a community shattered.
Jeremy Lindsey was arrested for suspected drunk driving and charged with vehicular homicide after allegedly killing Grammy-winning drummer Kerry “Fatman” Hunter.
In a heartbreaking incident that underscores the dangers of drunk driving, the vibrant New Orleans music community mourns the loss of one of its most beloved figures.
Early Tuesday at 12:08 a.m., the unthinkable happened—Jeremy Lindsey, a 21-year-old, struck and killed 53-year-old Kerry “Fatman” Hunter. The collision was the beginning of a two-mile journey with Hunter's body gruesomely lodged in the windshield, an image that starkly contrasts the joyous spirit Hunter carried through life.
Lindsey's decision to drive after consuming alcohol led to dire consequences. His blood alcohol content was found to be above the legal limit, a fact that will weigh heavily in the judicial process. He has been released on a $60,000 bond but faces the severe repercussions of his actions, including the charge of vehicular homicide.
The loss of Kerry “Fatman” Hunter is felt deeply within the heart of the city known for its music and soul. Hunter was a Grammy-winning drummer who played with the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, a group that brought home a Grammy in 2021 for Best Regional Roots Music Album.
His music, a celebration of life itself, now leaves a haunting silence in its absence. Statements from the New Orleans Nightcrawlers pay tribute to Hunter's life:
Fatman is our hero. He was always positive and his motto was 'gonna be allright.' There are no words for what we feel other than shocked that Kerry Fatman Hunter is not with us anymore. His spirit will always be present. He made every band he played with sound and feel great.
This loss is not just personal for friends, family, and bandmates; it is a cultural wound. Hunter embodied New Orleans culture—a culture that is now missing "that big piece" due to this tragedy.
Tributes and heartfelt messages continue to pour in on social media, reflecting Hunter's wide-reaching impact. He was a figure who transcended music; he was a cultural icon whose presence could elevate any gathering or performance to something memorable.
The New Orleans Nightcrawlers have expressed a sentiment that resonates with many when they say, “Fatman was an important part of New Orleans culture and contributed to it, loved it, breathed it, and lived it. Now that big piece of the culture is gone.”
While funeral arrangements for Hunter have not been made public, the music community and the city at large are preparing to say goodbye to a man whose life was a testament to the power of music to bring joy. The corner of Cleveland Avenue and South Derbigny Street, where Lindsey flagged down the ambulance, will forever be etched in the city's memory as a place where a bright light was extinguished too soon.
The tragic death of Kerry “Fatman” Hunter has sent shockwaves through the New Orleans music community and beyond. A young man's reckless decision to drive while intoxicated ended the life of a beloved local musician and left a void in the cultural fabric of the city.
Jeremy Lindsey, whose actions culminated in this tragedy, is now facing the consequences of vehicular homicide while the community grapples with the sudden loss. Tributes continue to flow for Hunter, a testament to his influence and the legacy he leaves behind. The reverberations of this event will be felt for years to come, as will the memory of the life and music of Kerry “Fatman” Hunter.
