A vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street early Wednesday, leaving 10 people dead and 30 others injured, according to NOLA Ready. Witnesses reported that the driver of a white truck struck the crowd intentionally before exiting the vehicle and firing a weapon, CBS news reported. Police responded by returning fire.
The chaotic scene occurred at approximately 3.15am near the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Streets, an area teeming with tourists celebrating the holiday.Witnesses described a white truck crashing into the crowd at high speed, with its driver then exiting the vehicle and firing shots.
Nicole Mowrer, a tourist from Iowa, told CBS News that she and her husband were just a block away from the attack. “We heard crashing noises, then gunfire,” she said. While attempting to assist injured victims, she noted many had fatal injuries from the truck’s impact. Emergency responders arrived shortly after, tending to the wounded and cordoning off the area.
New Orleans police and local officials confirmed the strike appeared to be deliberate. Governor Jeff Landry condemned the attack as a “horrific act of violence,” offering prayers for the victims and first responders.
What we know about the attacker
- Intentional act: Police confirmed the truck’s collision with the crowd was deliberate, calling it a “mass casualty incident.”
- Weapons involved: Witnesses and officials stated the attacker exited the truck and began firing a weapon.
- Casualties and injuries: Ten people were killed, and 30 others sustained injuries. The injured were transported to five local hospitals, including University Medical Center and East Jefferson General Hospital.
- Investigation underway: The suspect was not immediately taken into custody, and authorities are actively investigating the motive and circumstances of the attack.
