NEW ORLEANS — A man was gunned down in the French Quarter Saturday night.
The New Orleans Police Department said it happened around 9 p.m. near the Governor Nicholls Street Wharf, a spot for enjoying views of the Mississippi River. The coroner's office identified the victim as 39-year-old Shawn Hubbard.
Nearby at the intersection of St. Philip and Decatur, Tanishika Cocroft, said he was finishing his shift at The Market Cafe.
“I hear some shots ring out over the loud band," Cocroft said, “And as I’m standing there, I see three people scattering. And I’m like, wait, those are gunshots 'cause ain’t nobody going to run for nothing, right?”
NOPD said they responded to a call of a man shot.
“I heard sirens, ambulance, police," Cocroft said.
NOPD found the Hubbard lying between the train tracks and the Mississippi River. EMS arrived and pronounced him dead, NOPD said.
Glade Bilby, President of French Quarter Citizens, lives less than a mile from the riverfront walkway. He said he's noticed people living under the wharf.
“It’s kind of an area that isn’t well traveled, but a lot of tourists are there because it’s a trolley car stop," Bilby said, “Well, I mean, I’ve been here a long time, so I’m very cautious, as anybody in a city that has a lot of population, you pay attention, but it’s not a good thing because we have a lot of visitors who come here, we have residents who’ve lived here a long time and it doesn’t give too many people a sense of comfort.”
Bilby said lighting needs to be addressed. Video at the crime scene shows how dark the wharf was after 9 p.m.
“We continue to have problems getting the lights lit in the French Quarter at any given time there will be 25 to 30 percent that aren’t lit," Bilby said, “And certainly, we’re paying enough tax dollars and certainly we’re paying enough revenue generated from the quarter to have better lighting.”
The quarter was packed this weekend, and Bilby said this crime may be a sign to reconsider some events.
“You’ve got the Treme Fest on one side, you’ve got the event at the museum on the other side, and you’ve got a big parade, Krewe of Boo, so I think maybe a little better coordination would help the undermanned, stressed police force to deal with these things," Bilby said.
“A parade just went on, you had kids out here, and now on the river somebody got shot," Cocroft said.
The NOPD is still working to determine suspect(s) and a motive.
If you have any information that may help detectives, you're urged to call Crimestoppers. 504-822-1111. You can remain anonymous.
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