Tragedy struck on New Year's Day as a driver plowed into a crowd of pedestrians in New Orleans' famous French Quarter, resulting in 10 fatalities and leaving 30 others injured. The horrific event occurred along Bourbon Street at approximately 3:15 a.m., a location and time typically filled with jubilation and celebratory crowds. In a statement obtained by AP News, Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick described the suspect's actions as "very intentional behavior," noting that the individual appeared to be "hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did."
Following the collision, the suspect reportedly engaged in a firefight with law enforcement officers, during which two officers were shot and are now reported to be in stable condition. The suspect was shot and declared deceased at the scene, as reported by FOX San Antonio. Details about the suspect have not been broadly disclosed, and it is unclear if there is any ongoing threat to public safety.
In the wake of the attack, the FBI has taken charge of investigating whether this was an act of terrorism, as the area was brimming with visitors looking to celebrate the New Year and eagerly awaiting the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game scheduled later that day. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the incident as a "terrorist attack," as per comments released by local authorities. Investigators are also probing the discovery of at least one suspected improvised explosive device found at the scene.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and fear immediately following the incident. Whit Davis, 22, recounted the situation in an interview with CNN, saying, "When they finally let us out of the club, police waved us where to walk and were telling us to get out of the area fast. I saw a few dead bodies they couldn’t even cover up and tons of people receiving first aid." The eventual departure from the site entailed police direction, and Davis mentioned seeing several casualties prior to evacuation. NOLA Ready, the city's emergency preparedness department, announced the injured were taken to five local hospitals.
Despite the somber tone cast by the day's events, officials reiterated that the Sugar Bowl game would proceed as expected. Security measures were to be strictly enforced to ensure the game's safety, as per Police Commissioner Kirkpatrick's assurance. The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden has been briefed, with Attorney General Merrick Garland also receiving updates regarding the attack.
