Man deliberately slams truck into crowd in New Orleans, killing 10 and injuring dozens; suspect lifeless

Ten folks have been killed and dozens injured early Wednesday when a person deliberately drove a pickup truck right into a crowd on Bourbon Avenue in New Orleans’ French Quarter as revelers have been celebrating the brand new yr, officers mentioned. New Orleans Police Division Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick mentioned the person drove round barricades and hurtled down Bourbon Avenue in “very intentional habits” earlier than opening fireplace on officers. 

The driving force died after exchanging gunfire with police, the FBI mentioned in a information launch. The suspect was apparently shot by regulation enforcement, in keeping with a regulation enforcement supply. 

“This man was making an attempt to run over as many individuals as he might,” mentioned Kirkpatrick, including that two cops have been hit by gunfire however have been in a secure situation. 

Mayor LaToya Cantrell referred to it as a probable “terrorist assault.” The FBI mentioned in a information launch that they’re investigating it “as an act of terrorism.” 

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry referred to as it “a horrific act of violence” and mentioned he and his spouse have been “praying for all of the victims and first responders on scene.” He urged folks to keep away from the realm. 

The favored vacationer district was filled with New 12 months’s Day revelers on the time of the obvious assault.

“He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the harm that he did,” Kirkpatrick mentioned. 

Witnesses instructed CBS Information reporter Kati Weis {that a} white truck crashed into folks on Bourbon Avenue at excessive pace, and the motive force then began firing a weapon from contained in the automobile, with police returning fireplace. 

The Metropolis of New Orleans mentioned in a assertion posted on-line that 30 folks have been transported to space hospitals with accidents and 10 folks have been confirmed lifeless. Kirkpatrick later mentioned that no less than 35 folks have been hospitalized.

Duncan mentioned that potential improvised explosives have been additionally discovered close by, however mentioned it was unclear in the event that they have been associated. No different data was given. 

Duncan mentioned the FBI might be main the investigation. President Biden was briefed in regards to the assault, the White Home mentioned, and his administration has been in contact with Cantrell to supply help. 

Weis noticed a number of folks on the bottom being handled for accidents close to the intersection of Bourbon and Canal Streets.

The Sugar Bowl faculty soccer playoff sport is scheduled to be performed on the close by Superdome later within the day. Kirkpatrick mentioned cops would work to make sure security on the occasion, indicating that the sport would go on as deliberate.  

Jim and Nicole Mowrer have been in New Orleans visiting from Iowa and witnessed the incident. Nicole instructed CBS Information they’d watched town’s fireworks show and have been having fun with the New 12 months’s Day environment within the French Quarter once they heard crashing noises coming from down the road. They mentioned they then noticed a white truck slam by a barricade “at a excessive charge of pace.”

The Mowrers mentioned they heard gunshots after the crashing noises and went to attempt to assist folks they discovered wounded, however realized the victims had died.

“We have been fairly, fairly near the place it began,” she mentioned, estimating that the truck hit folks solely a few block away from the place they’d been strolling.

“As soon as it was previous us, we did hear gunfire, noticed police working that path,” Nicole mentioned. “As soon as the gunfire stopped, we stayed within the alcove till the gunfire stopped, got here out into the road, and got here throughout loads of — a number of individuals who had been hit, [we] needed to see what we might do to assist.”

The Mowrers mentioned the victims they noticed had accidents from the truck influence, and they didn’t see any obvious gunshot wounds. They mentioned they left the realm as soon as emergency responders began arriving.