NEW ORLEANS — An off-duty NOPD officer was shot during an armed robbery attempt Thursday night, according to the New Orleans Police Department.
Officer Louis Blackmon, a four-year veteran who serves in the Fourth District, was in the 300 block of North Rendon Street around 10:35 p.m. when an armed subject came up to him, pointed a gun, and demanded his possessions.
Police said a struggle ensued and the officer suffered a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was taken to the hospital and his condition was said to be stable.
NOPD officers were in the area Friday, going door-to-door to ask questions and look for possible surveillance video of the incident that people in the area said occurred in a parking lot shared by Bayou Beer Garden and Camp Bow Wow animal daycare.
The owner of Bayou Beer Garden told reporter Leigha McNeil that they were up until 2 a.m. watching surveillance video with police.
“It’s absolutely terrifying," said Sissell Erickson, an employee of Camp Bow Wow. "Me, personally, after work, I’ll walk across the street to Bayou Beer Garden and walk back to my car when I’m finished. I guess I didn’t think it would happen so close to my work.”
The suspect is still believed to be at large and anyone with information is asked to call the Force Investigation Team at 504-658-6800 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-7867.