Two individuals lost their lives and 10 others sustained injuries in two separate shootings along a New Orleans parade route and celebration attended by a large crowd on Sunday, as per authorities. At the moment, no arrests have been made.
Police officers rushed to the scene following reports of gunfire shortly after 3:30 p.m. on an avenue in the city’s St. Roch neighborhood and found eight victims with gunshot wounds, as stated in a news release from the New Orleans Police Department. All eight were transported to hospitals in an unknown condition. Subsequently, it was disclosed that a ninth injured individual arrived at a hospital by private transportation.
About 45 minutes later, another report of gunfire was received by police as revelers were crossing the Almonaster Avenue Bridge, located just over half a mile to the north. One individual passed away at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries at a hospital, as per the police. A third victim was taken to a hospital in a private vehicle and is currently in stable condition.
No arrests have been made and no information about the suspects has been released. The St. Roch neighborhood, where the incidents occurred, is situated outside the city’s popular French Quarter and is located several blocks northeast of the quarter.
The Almonaster Bridge was shut down in both directions during the investigation.
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick mentioned that detectives are currently unsure if the two incidents are connected.
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Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick noted, “They were…different kinds of approaches,” in reference to the shootings that occurred in the vicinity of a “second line,” a celebratory event following a parade.
Thousands of individuals had gathered for the annual event hosted by the Nine Times Social Aid & Pleasure Club in the 9th Ward, as confirmed by organizer Oscar Brown to NOLA.com.
“It is a wonderful event, and we want to keep it a wonderful event,” Kirkpatrick emphasized.
