NEW ORLEANS — A series of violent group fights on a crowded section of Canal Street escalated into gunfire Saturday night and early Sunday in New Orleans, leaving six people injured across Bourbon and Canal Streets, police said.
Speaking at a press conference Monday, a Captain with the New Orleans Police Department explained the timeline of events that led to several people shot.
The first incident began as a large brawl around 7:20 p.m. Saturday in the 200 block of Bourbon Street, causing a stampede of people and pushing crowds into the 400 block.
Amid the chaos, a man involved in the fight fired into the crowd, striking a 15-year-old boy in the chest. The victim was later found at a nearby Marriott Hotel on Canal Street with others involved in the incident. Police quickly responded, launching an investigation with the help of video evidence and witnesses.
The NOPD said roughly 80 minutes later, another fight erupted in the 1000 block of Canal Street near the Mayfair Hotel.
During the altercation, a male suspect fired a single shot, hitting an 18-year-old man from Gonzales, Louisiana, in the back. Police believe this incident is linked to the earlier shooting, as video footage captured an individual involved in both altercations.
The violence continued early Sunday at 2:30 a.m. with a fight between two men in the 700 block of Canal Street. Both men drew firearms and exchanged gunfire, missing each other but injuring four bystanders. The victims included three out-of-town visitors and one local resident, who suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe.
Police are investigating the incidents, working with state agencies and reviewing surveillance footage to identify those responsible. Detectives believe the fights were central to the shootings and are pursuing leads to resolve the cases.
These deadly fights happened during a weekend that had thousands of visitors in New Orleans.
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