A shooting disturbed the carnival atmosphere during Mardi Gras, a quintessential New Orleans festivity, bringing a stark reminder of the continuing prevalence of gun violence in all venues of American life.
New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration shocked by shooting
During the popular Krewe of Bacchus parade, which is traditionally held in the run-up to the “Fat Tuesday” Mardi Gras celebration, gunfire erupted along the parade route around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday night.
The shooting happened at roughly the midway point of the five mile route of the Krewe of Bacchus parade on St. Charles Avenue.
A teenager was shot and killed, as well as for others injured in the mass shooting, police said, ABC News reported.
During a news conference on Monday, New Orleans Police did not release the name of the murder victim, only saying an unidentified boy between 15 and 18 years old died from his injuries at a local hospital.
The four other shooting victims have all been released from the hospital. Their names were not given, but they have been identified as a 4-year-old girl, an 18-year-old man, a 22-year-old woman, and a 24-year-old woman.
Shooting suspect nabbed immediately
A suspect in the shooting, 21-year-old Mansour Mbodj, was arrested “moments after shots were fired” around 9:30 p.m., police said, adding that officers were already “out in force” along the parade route.
Police said two guns were recovered at the scene. The man was initially jailed on charge of illegally carrying a weapon. Late Monday, police said the man now faced an additional charge of second-degree murder. It was unclear if other arrests were imminent, the Associated Press reported.
According to New Orleans police superintendent Michelle Woodfork, homicide investigators are still seeking more information, which includes any motive for the shooting and whether more than one person may have fired shots.
“We can’t say who fired a weapon, who was involved in the shooting at this time,” Woodfork said. “We have to wait til we get our ballistics results back to really be sure what guns were fired and then who may have been doing the shooting.”
New Orleans police stress Mardi Gras celebration is safe
New Orleans police describe the shooting as an “isolated incident.”
The New Orleans PD wants the public to know that the department is committed to making sure Mardi Gras is a safe, family friendly event, Woodfork said, adding that police have recovered 112 guns near the parade routes, CNN reported.
