At least 10 people were killed and more than 30 others were injured in New Orleans early Wednesday after a man rammed his pickup truck into a crowd during New Year’s celebrations and then shot at police officers when he crashed, officials said.
Authorities said the suspect, who is now dead, intentionally plowed his vehicle into a large group of revelers on Bourbon Street about 3:15 a.m. in what the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” Anne Kirkpatrick, superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, said at a news conference. “He was hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”
The suspect drove around barricades erected to stop traffic, due to his “intentional mindset,” Kirkpatrick said.
After he crashed his truck, the suspect opened fire on police from his vehicle and shot two officers, Kirkpatrick said. Both are in stable condition, she said.
Federal investigators and local law enforcement in New Orleans are trying to determine if the suspect used a long-gun rifle and whether he may have fired into the crowd while running people over, according to three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the city of New Orleans was “impacted by a terrorist attack.”
The FBI said it was working to investigate the incident as an act of terrorism. Improvised explosive devices were found, the FBI said, though the agency said it was working to confirm if they were viable explosives.
President Biden has been briefed on the attack, according to a White House official.
The dozens injured were being treated in local hospitals, as were the two injured officers, Kirkpatrick said.
Kirkpatrick said it was unclear how many victims were locals, but said that according to preliminary information “it seems the majority are locals versus tourists.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the incident a “horrific act of violence” in a post on X and said he was praying for the victims.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said a statement on X: “Many of us woke up this morning to devastating news of the brutal intentional slaughter of innocent people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans. I’m praying for the victims and their families and will ensure they get justice for this appalling act.”
Historic Bourbon Street, in the French Quarter, is a popular tourist area filled with bars and restaurants and was expected to be busy on New Year’s Eve.
Footage shot by onlookers and uploaded to social media showed a huge police presence on Bourbon Street and Canal Street.
Police said Tuesday that they expected the city to be busy as locals and visitors rang in the new year. New Orleans Police Department said it would be staffed at 100% and would draft in another 300 officers to help keep the peace.
This is a developing story. Check back here for updates soon.
