Orleans Parish Coroner Jeffrey Rouse identified the Housing Authority of New Orleans Police Officer who was killed early Sunday morning as 45-year old James Bennett, Jr.

The cause of death was listed as a gunshot wound.

Bennett was also a member of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Reserve Division from April 2000 until May 2013, before going full-time with HANO, according to Col. John Fortunato, a spokesman for the JPSO. For about a half a year in 2006, he was a full-time member of the JPSO.

uesday morning, Crimestoppers announced that the reward leading to an arrest in the case has been raised to $5,000.

Monday, two HANO cruisers returned to the spot where Bennett lost his life. Somebody shot him in his patrol car in the construction site of the Guste Public Housing Development in Central City neighborhood.

People who live in the development don’t know whether the officer was targeted by his killer or just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“I’m just wondering how something like that can happen and nobody know anything about it, that’s all,” Eddie Cutno said.

The shooting happened at the corner of Erato and Freret streets. Neighbors say the dimly lit area is somewhat of a no-man’s land after dark.

“My neighbors and them, they know all kinds of things be happening back there,” said Guste development neighbor Louis Hollins.

Neighbors said they recently noticed extra HANO patrols back in the construction zone. They’re not sure if someone is stealing building materials or dealing drugs in the area.

“What they say is going on back there, like drifters be coming through there off of Earhart Street, from under the bridge,” Hollins said.

The NOPD released no new details about the shooting. Police are asking anyone who knows anything about the murder to please come forward with the information.

Meanwhile, neighbors are urging the killer to turn himself in.

“I got children, grandchildren. You don’t have not respect for human life,” said Cutno. “You don’t just kill people just to be killing them. It’s not a war. But, that’s life.”

Bennett is the first HANO officer killed in the line of duty.