NEW ORLEANS — On Monday, NOPD released additional information about Sunday's St. Roch shooting. The number of victims climbed to 13, NOPD said.
The sister of one of the victims spoke to WWL Louisiana on the phone. She did not want to be identified but said her 32-year-old brother was shot while he was leaving the Nine Times second line near the Almonaster Bridge.
“I received a phone call. It was kind of like shocking cause all I could think is like, ‘My brother? No, not my brother,'" the sister said, "He just went out to enjoy himself. So, it was kind of like wrong place wrong time, which is a real thing, you know?”
She said bullets struck her brother in the leg and grazed his back. He was rushed to the hospital.
NOPD said 13 people were wounded in the two shootings that happened within 45 minutes of each other and less than a mile apart on Almonaster Avenue.
NOPD Supt. Anne Kirkpatrick addressed the media Monday morning.
“We are actively working this case. We do have leads," Kirkpatrick said, "And we will find the perpetrators. You will be held accountable.”
Two victims died, NOPD said.
A GoFundMe identified those two victims as relatives, Rasean Carter and Malachi Jackson.
The Nine Times parade is in its 26th year. Organizer Oscar Brown said violence has never been an issue.
“We as a club definitely praying for the victims family and lifting them up and want them to know if there’s anything we can help with, we would love to do that," Brown said.
Condolences for the victims' families also poured in from city and state leaders.
“The person or persons that perpetrated this crime are simply sick, simply filled with hate, simply filled with a disregard for other humans," Cm. Eugene Green said on the WWL Louisiana Morning Show.
The sister we spoke with said her brother is a minister. Since the shooting, he was released from the hospital, but he has a long recovery ahead.
“It messes with you mentally, physically, and it’s just a lot, but he’s strong, and he’ll get through everything you know. We’re just glad he’s still here," she said.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 cash reward for any information that leads to an arrest in this case.
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