Who was Kerry Hunter? Jeremy Lindsey acquitted in Mardi Gras crash that killed Grammy-winning musician

Kerry Hunter was an American jazz musician who played the snare drums. He was born in New Orleans and was often referred to as Kerry "Fatman" Hunter. He began playing the snare drums at the age of 12 and was a member of several jazz bands in New Orleans during his formative years.

Some of the bands Kerry Hunter played with were the Roots of Jazz Brass Band, the Junior Olympa Brass Band (early 90s), the Preservation Hall Collective, Kinfolk Tornado, the Rebirth Brass Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and more. He later joined the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, and in 2020, the band dedicated a song to him and another band member called "Fatman." It was a part of their Atmosphere album, which won a Grammy for Best Regional Roots Music Album in 2021.

Kerry Hunter was 53 years old when he passed away on February 13, 2024. He was killed in a vehicular accident by Jeremy Lindsey, a 23-year-old student and basketball player at Xavier University.

What is the verdict for the student who killed Kerry Hunter?

A year after the accident that killed Kerry Hunter during Mardi Gras, the court has decided on a verdict for Jeremy Lindsey, who hit Hunter with his limousine at the intersection of Interstate 10 at North Claiborne Avenue and Pauger Street. They have decided that he is not guilty of vehicular homicide and hit-and-run.

The police have revealed that after hitting Kerry Hunter by accident, Jeremy called 911 and even flagged down an ambulance almost two miles away from the scene of the accident.

According to Lindsey's lawyer, Sarah Chervinsky, the accident was a "split-second accident," which caused Hunter to lose his life. After the verdict was declared, she concluded:

"I think we were able to show the jury that an accident isn't always a crime."

Tributes from Kerry Hunter's colleagues and friends

After hearing the news of Hunter's passing, a few of his friends, old bandmates, and colleagues took to social media to express their grief over his passing.

Derrick Tabb, who is a former member of Rebirth Brass Band, said:

"We all grew up together in the hard knocks of Treme in the music scene... It's very rare to have a Grammy in the brass band culture."

The Kinfolk Band also posted on Instagram, writing:

"Please pray for the KINFOLK Band members as they are mourning for loss [sic] of the dear brother, Kerry "Fat man" Hunter🖤🕊️RIP "FATMAN" … You'll be truly missed Bro Man."

Glen David Andrews also posted on X. He wrote:

"God Bless You Kerry ( Fatman ) Hunter take your place in the Angel here my first album I recorded at 16 years you did it for $100 I always admired you for that listen to My first album here it was 1996 I was 16 years old Fatman was the drummer," he added a link below for followers to see Kerry's work.

Wendell Pierce also wrote on X:

"Kerry Hunter was a fixture on the music scene in New Orleans. When I saw him on the bandstand I knew the continuim of tradition and creativity that is part of brass band music in the Crescent City was being held up to a high standard of the syncopation RIP"

Kerry Hunter's passing came as a shock to the New Orleans jazz community and has since left a void. The Grammy-winning musician is remembered as a gifted drummer and an icon in the jazz music community.

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