NEW ORLEANS — Two days after two deadly shootings in the St. Roch neighborhood, Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says NOPD is making headway in their investigation.
“We still have leads we aren’t sharing with you,” NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said. “We know we are close to making arrests in these situations.”
On Tuesday, NOPD Captain Jennifer Dupree told the media the two shootings were not related.
Since Sunday, Dupre says they’ve arrested a person of interest, issued eight search warrants, and collected four guns.
“The charges have not been in relation to the shooting, but he is a person of interest,” NOPD Captain Jennifer Dupree said.
The first shots were fired around 3:30 Sunday afternoon, as thousands gathered along Almonaster Avenue to celebrate the annual Nine Times second line.
In the first shooting, no one was killed, but ten people were injured.
Around forty-five minutes later, shots rang out again, this time at the Almonaster Avenue and Florida Avenue Bridge.
In the second shooting, two were killed and another was injured.
The coroner’s office identified the victims as 21-year-old Rasean Carter and 19-year-old Malachi Jackson.
According to Kirkpatrick, all parades are gun-free zones. Kirkpatrick says around 100 NOPD officers were on patrol at Sunday’s second line.
"Second lines are part of our culture, and they’ll remain part of our culture. The issue is keeping them safe,” Kirkpatrick said.
Both the NOPD and District Attorney Jason Williams say if you know anything, the time to come forward is now.
“I’m not looking for thoughts and prayers, I’m looking for tips and leads,” Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said. “It’s time to tell it and it’s time to step up.”
“There were thousands of people out there. Someone saw this,” Kirkpatrick said.
According to NOPD, there have been over twelve social and pleasure club second-line events this year.
Prior to Sunday, NOPD says there were no gun violence incidents reported.