Twelve people were shot, two of them fatally, during two shootings that disrupted a parade and neighborhood celebration in New Orleans, police and witnesses reported. Authorities have not yet made any arrests.
The first shooting occurred at 3:38 p.m. on Sunday near Citi Trends in the 1800 block of Almonaster Avenue in the St. Roch area. It happened while the Nine Times Social Aid and Pleasure Club Second Line parade was underway.
Police responding to the scene discovered eight individuals with gunshot wounds, all of whom were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
“What we know – and the facts are still fluid – but apparently a car was involved, a suspect car, and shots were fired into the crowd,” Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick stated during a briefing. “We know two weapons were used by the ballistics that were left at the scene.”
Roughly 45 minutes later, a second shooting unfolded on a bridge near the intersection of Almonaster and Florida Avenues. One person was declared dead on the spot, while another succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. A third individual was hospitalized in stable condition.
It remains unclear where the 12th victim was shot.
“Because no cars were able to be on that bridge, we know that the shooting happened within the crowd,” Kirkpatrick said. She added that it is not yet determined whether the two incidents are connected. No suspects have been apprehended at this time.
