NEW ORLEANS — Eleanor Tabone, Mike McDaniel, Paul Murphy, Leigha McNeil and NOLA.com contributed to this report
“It went from one moment, everybody was partying, to a burst of shots.” That’s how one witness described the chaotic scene Sunday night.
A show at the Republic Club on S Peters St, was crowded with people looking to have a good time before shots rang out just outside of the club, turning the party atmosphere into one of desperation.
“In the bathroom, I saw people with blood on their shoes,” said one witness. “They had blood on their clothes. They were on the phone talking to their friends, describing what was going on.”
Andrew Keel, who was nearby with his wife and some friends, said they were walking to their hotel in the Warehouse District when they came upon the scene.
“We saw multiple ladies crying and saying they had just arrived and there were shots fired. Three people were laying on the ground.”
Surveillance video from a business nearby showed people casually walking down Magazine Street before they, and many others, began fleeing in the opposite direction.
One 24-year-old woman was killed and 11 other people were injured. Police said that the other victims were either stable or had been released.
Several witnesses described the scene to WWL Louisiana as chaos. A parked car near the Republic NOLA nightclub could be seen with bullet holes in it.
A witness who was at a nearby hotel told NOLA.com that she was awakened by the gunfire, that she initially mistook for fireworks.
"I saw people pouring out of the club," said Kelsey Holt of Nashville. "I feel awful for everyone."
Friends and family told NOLA.com that the victim is Jezreel Aquilla Poleate.
They said she had to be an unintended victim, saying that there was “no way” the bullets were meant for her.
“As far as I have known her, she’s been a very loving, welcoming person,” said a woman who knew the victim but did not want to be identified. “I just broke down because I just saw her a couple of weeks ago. I hugged her. Every time she would be like, ‘Hey cousin.’ We’re not actually cousins but we have a mutual cousin and that’s how they greeted each other.”
The owner of Republic NOLA told WWL Louisiana that the shooting happened outside of the club and that no staff member was injured.
