Watch: Gay Restauranteur Gunned Down in New Orleans; 'He Died in My Arms,' Husband Says

Tragedy struck married couple and business co-owners Jacob Carter and Daniel Blagovich of Tacoma, Washington, while they were vacationing in New Orleans. Reports say a gunman fatally shot Carter and then fled the scene. The alleged killer has not yet been apprehended.

"He died in my arms," Blagovich told local newspaper the News Tribune (story is behind a paywall).

"Carter was the co-owner of a Tacoma bagel shop called Howdy Bagel with his business partner and husband Daniel," People Magazine detailed. "The two were vacationing in New Orleans at the time of the shooting, according to a social media post from Howdy Bagel."

Carter was reportedly shot at about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 5 "near Bourbon and Kerlerec streets in New Orleans' Marigny neighborhood," the New York Post reported.

New Orleans news station WVUE reported that the killing was thought to have been the result of "an attempted armed robbery," and noted that video from security cameras had been provided to the police.

"I could imagine that being my husband," one resident of the neighborhood told WVUE. The man also described hearing a commotion at 1:30 a.m. – a disturbance he said was different from the usual late-night sounds of tourists on and around the famed Bourbon Street.

"Howdy Bagel, which began as a successful farmers market operation in 2021 before opening the store on South Tacoma Way in June, announced the tragic death on its Instagram page," the Post said.

"The shop's name Howdy 'kind of invokes this sense of warmth and bringing people together, bringing people in and I think we are trying to foster a place of inclusiveness to everyone,'" People Mag recalled Carter telling a local news outlet last summer.

"Daniel and I both grew up in environments they were not always that way, especially to queer folks," Carter added, "and so to have a storefront that feels welcoming to everyone I think is a big part of who we are and what we believe the space should be."

More than a friendly place, the shop was also the couple's way of bouncing back in the face of adversity.

"The popular bagel shop opened after Carter and his husband lost their jobs because of the pandemic," People Mag detailed.

The business memorialized Carter with a message on its Instagram page, the magazine went on to add.

"If you knew Jake, you know he was someone who exuded kindness, warmth, and genuine care to everyone he met," Howdy Bagel posted. "Jake was one of the brightest spots in the lives of everyone he loved. This loss is immeasurable for our community."

"In an effort to support Daniel and the whole Howdy crew, we are asking that you consider supporting Howdy in two ways," the post continued. "First, take care of one another. Showing up with care for one another as we grieve is a way we can honor the love that Jacob put into this world...."

"Second, to give Daniel space to grieve without having to worry about the logistics of running a business, we ask that you consider donating to help cover some of the shop costs and employee wages in this difficult season," the post went on to say, before adding: "The shop will be closed temporarily as we all navigate this time of grief."

"A GoFundMe page created to cover the cost of the rent and operating expenses has raised more than $217,000," the Post relayed.

New Orleans police indicated they were taking the homicide seriously. "Investigators are gathering evidence and information to identify the person(s) responsible for this incident and a motive," a statement from the police department said.

Watch the WVUE news clip below.