Police are still investigating the events that led to the death early Saturday morning of a man who was visiting New Orleans on a wedding planning trip with his fiancee.
Police said Thomas Rolfes, 25, and his fiancee, Elizabeth Fried, flew separately into the city on Friday, and Rolfes went out to meet up with friends while Fried went to the hotel. Rolfes later suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead on the scene when police arrived after receiving a report of a body found on a street corner, Police Chief Michael Harrison said at a press conference on Monday.
At the press conference, police said they believe robbery was the motive in the attack. Rolfes’ wallet was missing when police found him, and injuries to his hands indicate there might have been a struggle, police said. Fried and Rolfes’ family have pleaded anyone with more information to come forward.
“Saturday morning, my life was ruined. He was such an amazing man,” Fried said in an interview with WWLTV. “I want to find out who did this, who ruined my life.”
Rolfes had worked on Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, the Washington Post reported. “His warm smile and engaging personality lifted our spirits,” Romney said in a statement, the Post reported. “His commitment and dedication to our effort made him an invaluable part of the campaign.”
Rolfes and Fried met while attending Tulane University in New Orleans. They were engaged last month.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
- How Nayib Bukele’s ‘Iron Fist’ Has Transformed El Salvador
- What if Ultra-Processed Foods Aren’t as Bad as You Think?
- How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Battle of the Black Sea
- Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
- How Project 2025 Would Jeopardize Americans’ Health
- What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
- The 32 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024
Write to Katie Reilly at Katie.Reilly@time.com