It was in the mid to late 1990's, if I remember correctly. I was in the active duty Air Force living in Omaha at the time, but a friend in Louisiana kept me posted on the body count.
1994 was the peak year for murders in New Orleans. 421 is what I found. That's a lot for sure and I won't quibble with using "500" as a round number for one year. However, as Rush says, "words mean things" and to imply that there are 500 "per year" is not accurate. The numbers have dropped greatly since that year. Still high, but nowhere near 500 per year.