A quadruple shooting in the vibrant heart of New Orleans' French Quarter has claimed the life of a 27-year-old woman and left three others injured. The gunfire erupted around 12:20 p.m. on Thursday. The New Orleans Police Department responded to the scene in the 700 block of Iberville Street, as reported by WGNO.
Witnesses described a chaotic scramble for safety as shots rang out near the corner of Iberville and Royal streets. "People in the front actually heard the gunshots and they were screaming and saying, run. Everybody just ran to the back. I ran behind the bar and then they told everybody to go to the back and we went to the back and people were falling. Somebody cut themselves, I think because the glass fell," relayed a witness in a statement obtained by WGNO. In the aftermath, the 27-year-old woman was pronounced deceased, while the other victims, ages ranging from 24 to 40, were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
In a swift response to the incident, authorities have arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Miorana who authorities say was on an ankle monitor at the time of the shooting. NOLA.com reports that he faces charges including second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. Found in a Honda Accord on Interstate 10 and Crowder Boulevard, his apprehension has brought a piece, albeit small, of closure to the case.
However, the investigation continues as two more suspects, Daniel Miorana and Darrell Adams, remain at large. According to New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, via an interview with WDSU, "What I know and what I saw were three shooters. That does not mean there wasn't additional people in that car." Court records have revealed Miorana was prohibited from possessing a firearm and his movements were restricted due to a prior conviction. New Orleans Police Department has called the attack "targeted," intensifying the manhunt for the remaining suspects, as per NOLA.com.
The community remains in shock as details surrounding the incident continue to surface. One bystander, Logan Harrington, told WDSU, "It was probably 30 to 40 rounds within two or three minutes. I never thought it would be within five feet of me. I mean, I looked and he was right there. I never thought it would've happened." The identification and motivations of the gunmen, save for Nicholas Miorana, are still under investigation, as the New Orleans Police Department urges the public to come forward with any relevant information that may lead to the apprehension of the remaining suspects.
