NEW ORLEANS — One man is dead and another is injured after a stabbing in the French Quarter Monday morning.
A portion of Decatur Street near Esplanade was blocked off much of Monday as police were investigating. The injured man was taken to the hospital. Police say it happened just after 11 A.M.
One nearby resident was taking her usual daily walk in the area when she approached the crime scene.
“I live with my kid. I have a 2-year-old baby and we always walk through here for a nature walk and when I saw the tape it was beyond me and just thought woah what’s going on, and when I found out it’s a crime scene and what happened, at this time of day, not good,” she said.
Another man, who frequents the coffee shop on the other side of the crime scene, had a different reaction.
“It doesn’t really surprise me, for me I always feel poverty brings violence and I don’t think the city is trying to do anything with the poverty. They’re so focused on tourism,” he said.
He tells WWLTV, better resources for the community will help put a stop to the violence.
“I think they should focus more on community service programs like trystereo which helps getting clean needles to people that are users and there’s no way to have them stop so let’s get them in a safe access space. Maybe some more community programs like community centers for kids to go,” he said. “Just things that are going to allow the people who can’t have don’t’ have access or frankly privilege to be able to have a good life people are struggling here, the city ahs been struggling for a long time. I feel like no one cares and they want to deal with the tourists.”
The Orleans Parish Coroner identified the homicide victim as 30-year-old Thomas J. Stewart.
The incident is being investigated as a homicide. A suspect and a motive are unclear right now. Anyone with information is asked to contact the NOPD or Crimestoppers at 822-1111. .