Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to correct some sourcing, and a video has been removed.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A mass shooting in the Warehouse District claimed a woman’s life and wounded 11 others.
The New Orleans Police Department reports it happened around 12 a.m. in the 800 block of South Peters Street.
That’s where the woman was found lying on the sidewalk. NOPD officials said she had been fatally shot. Five men and six other women were taken to a hospital. No word on their conditions.
WGNO’s Amy Russo was on scene. She said there was a black car parked at the intersection of S. Peters and Julia streets with at least three bullet holes in it. The NOPD arrived around 5:30 a.m. to check it out.
The area in which the shooting took place is a heavily trafficked area by tourists and locals, just a few blocks from the Mississippi River.
One witness watched it all unfold. She was at the Republic when she heard gunshots. She ran to the bathroom and said it was just a crowd of chaos. She said she saw people running in every direction, even some with blood on their clothes.
“They were playing music. All you heard was ‘bop, bop, bop, bop.’ Like maybe at least 10 times, at the least. Somebody said somebody came and they said, ‘Move, I’m about to light this up.’ And that’s when the shots fired,” she said.
Gov. Jeff Landry reacted to the news on X, stating “Sharon and I are praying for the victims and their families in this tragedy. We appreciate the first responders for their hard work. This type of violence has no place in our State.”
Congressman Troy Carter also posted about the crime. He said, “Last night’s mass shooting in New Orleans is a tragedy. It is heartbreaking to see gun violence devastate our city, our neighbors, and our loved ones. My prayers are with the victims and their loved ones. We urgently need common-sense gun reform measures and violence reduction programs in our community; too many lives have been lost. I will not stop fighting for change so that we can feel safe in the city we love.”
“Last night’s mass shooting outside a nightclub shows that gun violence is still a serious threat to our public health and safety. Even with violent crime in New Orleans decreasing for the second year in a row, we must continue looking for lasting preventative solutions. Gov. Landry said he agrees this type of violence has no place in our state – so I invite him to help make that a reality. That is why I have been fighting at the state legislature to stop permitless concealed carry and establish a statewide office of violence prevention. My family and I are praying for the victims, and I encourage anyone with knowledge of the incident to help NOPD make a speedy arrest,” said State Senator Royce Duplessis.
New Orleans City Council President Helena Morena said “Last night’s mass shooting is incredibly tragic, and I have grave concern that we may see situations like this increase when the state’s concealed carry law goes into effect. This law will make it even more difficult for NOPD to takes guns off our streets in New Orleans and prevent shootings. I hope that legislation by Rep. Alonzo Knox (D) or Sen. Kirk Talbot (R) is approved so at least New Orleans will have some carve-out protections to ensure firearm enforcement in high-traffic areas. These two legislators demonstrate that there is bipartisan support for common-sense regulations. The victims of this shooting are in my prayers, and I have been in contact with Chief Kirkpatrick to ensure the perpetrator is swiftly arrested.”
So far no one has been arrested, and investigators have not announced a motive; but there is video of what happened.
There just so happens to be an NOPD security camera in the same block pointed directly at the club’s entrance as well as several private cameras in the area that may be the key to solving this case.
“We were able to look at those cameras. Then again because this is a very early-on investigation, we don’t want to give a lot of information,” Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said.
The investigation is ongoing. WGNO will keep you up to date with the latest on this mass shooting on air and online.
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