Eyewitnesses have recalled the horrific moments of a deadly attack in New Orleans’ French Quarter on New Year’s Day, when a pickup truck ploughed through a crowd of revelers, killing at least 10 and injuring more than 30. The incident occurred around 3.15am on Bourbon Street, a popular spot packed with people celebrating the arrival of 2025. The driver, described by authorities as “hell-bent on carnage,” reportedly aimed to run over as many people as possible before opening fire on police officers.
The attack unfolded as New Orleans prepared for the Sugar Bowl football game at the nearby Superdome, which was expected to draw even larger crowds later in the day.Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed that the driver’s actions were intentional, saying, “He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.” Two police officers were wounded during the attack but are in stable condition.
We heard crashing noises, then gunshots
Witnesses told CBS News they saw the truck barreling down Bourbon Street at high speed, crashing through barricades before the driver exited the vehicle and began firing at officers. “We heard crashing noises, then gunshots,” said Nicole Mowrer, who was visiting New Orleans from Iowa. “We saw a lot of people who had been hit, but no apparent gunshot wounds.” The Mowrers, who were nearby, stayed in an alcove until the gunfire stopped before offering help to victims.
Another witness, Kevin Garcia, 22, told CNN that he saw the truck slam into pedestrians on the left side of the street. “A body came flying at me,” Garcia said, adding that the scene quickly turned chaotic as gunshots rang out. Whit Davis, who was leaving a nightclub nearby, described the panic inside the venue. “Everyone started yelling and running to the back,” he said. “When they finally let us out, police waved us away and told us to get out of the area fast. I saw a few dead bodies and people receiving first aid.”
The FBI has taken charge of the investigation, though authorities have not provided details about the driver’s identity or a possible motive. Some reports, including those from the New Orleans police, mentioned finding suspected improvised explosives at the scene, though it remains unclear if they were connected to the attack.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called the incident “a horrific act of violence,” and Mayor LaToya Cantrell initially described it as a potential “terrorist attack,” though the FBI did not share this view. Despite the chaos, the Sugar Bowl game is expected to proceed as planned, with heightened security measures in place.
