What started as a Carnival crowd along the St. Charles Avenue parade route ended in chaos over the weekend, when a large fistfight near the end of the Krewe of Pygmalion parade left one person stabbed and several others in handcuffs, according to New Orleans police. The brawl, which involved at least 10 people in the 2100 block of St. Charles Avenue, broke out as the parade was wrapping up and ended with one person suffering a stab wound. Officers detained multiple people at the scene, and the New Orleans Police Department says the investigation is still underway, as eported by NOLA.com.
In a news release, NOPD officials said three people were arrested on disturbing the peace charges and that several others are being sought on warrants, according to NOLA.com. Detectives are reviewing witness statements and video as they try to piece together how the fight escalated to a stabbing.
The department also described the 2100 block of St. Charles as "a hotspot for crime with a history of violence" and pointed to a prior mass shooting in the area that injured multiple people, according to NOLA.com. That history is part of why officers say tracking down everyone involved in this brawl is a priority.
Arrests and warrants
Police released the names of several people wanted on warrants in connection with the fight and stabbing. Those sought include Wymann Sparkman (22), Antwine Butler, Charles Davis (24), Shadon Boothe (23), Juwan Fielder (24) and Raheem Brown (22), according to the department.
Officers arrested Christopher Kirk (22), Syjuan Chriss (21) and Kendall Tuggles (20) on counts of disturbing the peace, police said. Authorities added that Chriss also faces two counts of aggravated second degree battery.
Investigation ongoing
The NOPD says the case remains active as detectives sort through witness accounts and available footage from the chaotic scene. Investigators are asking anyone with information about the fight or the stabbing to contact the department so they can identify additional participants and clarify each person’s role.
Parade safety and local context
The stabbing unfolded during a packed Carnival weekend when big crowds routinely line St. Charles Avenue for multiple parades. The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of keeping popular parade routes safe while thousands of locals and visitors jostle for a spot on the neutral ground.
Police have previously flagged parts of the Uptown route for violent incidents, and this latest case adds to those concerns for residents and paradegoers who treat St. Charles as a staple of Carnival season.
This story will be updated as police release more information or if additional arrests and formal charges are announced.
