Jacob Carter, 32, who co-owned the celebrated Howdy Bagel in Tacoma, Washington, was fatally shot while on vacation in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The incident happened in the early hours of January 5, 2024, while Carter was holidaying with his husband and business partner, Daniel Blagovich.

Carter and Blagovich were in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans, near Bourbon and Kerlerec Streets, when the shooting occurred around 1:30 am.

New Orleans police say a 16-year-old is in custody. He allegedly approached Carter and opened fire before fleeing the scene. The teen was initially detained in Jefferson Parish due to charges that were unrelated to the murder. Following his release, the police announced their intention to transfer him to Orleans Parish, where he will be formally charged and investigated for the alleged second-degree murder of Carter.

In a statement to the media, a grieving Blagovich disclosed that Carter died in his arms.

Howdy Bagel, which originated as a farmers market enterprise in 2021 and grew into a storefront on South Tacoma Way by June of 2023, has earned praise for its distinctive bagel recipes and welcoming environment.

The death of Carter was announced on the shop’s Instagram page, which highlighted his benevolence, warmth, and substantial influence on the community. The bagel shop has temporarily closed to provide Blagovich and the staff time to grieve.

The community has shown strong support for Blagovich and Howdy Bagel during this difficult time.

A GoFundMe page was set up to help with shop expenses and employee salaries, raising over $250,000 in donations.

Local Tacoma businesses, such as Bar Rosa, En Rama cocktail bar, and The Cat and Rabbitt Cake Shop, have also donated a share of their profits to the fund.

Both Carter, originally from Texas, and Blagovich, from West Seattle, Washington, founded Howdy Bagel after they lost their jobs during the pandemic.

The duo intended for the bagel shop to promote inclusivity and community bonding. Carter, a former social worker and documentary photographer, once mentioned that the name ‘Howdy’ represented friendliness and unity, a philosophy that filtered through all aspects of their business.