Eleven people were wounded in a shooting rampage early Sunday on the edge of the famed French Quarter of New Orleans in an area still thick with tourists at 3 a.m.
Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said two of the injured were hospitalized in critical condition. He said officers were in the area when the shooting spree began, but that no officers were among the wounded.
Ferguson said one person was detained near the scene but said he did not yet know what role, if any, the person had in the shooting. No arrests had been made.
The shooting took place just off of Bourbon Street. Ferguson said a heavy police presence had been in the area because the annual Bayou Classic football game between Grambling State University and Southern University had been played Saturday. The game historically draws a huge crowd to the city.
Three years ago, one person was killed and nine others injured following a shooting spree on Bourbon Street hours after the game was played.
On Sunday, “some individuals chose to do the wrong thing at the wrong time,” Ferguson said.
“We had officers right there, within that very block, that actually thought they were being fired on,” Ferguson said. “Our officers … were within feet when this incident occurred, but unfortunately there we so many people out there we were unable to determine who was firing these shots.”
The motive for the shooting had not been determined, and Ferguson said he did not have names, gender or ages for those wounded. Police were interviewing witnesses and looking for surveillance and other video that might shed light on the case, he said.
“This is the message we have been sending throughout the week,” Ferguson said. “Please leave your gun at home.”
Kenneth Culbreth told nola.com he was heading to the Canal Street CVS to make a quick purchase when he heard gunshots.
“I heard pops. It was so many, I couldn’t keep count,” he said.
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