Early Saturday morning turned violent in St. Roch and the Lower Ninth Ward, where two separate shootings left two men wounded and brought a heavy police and EMS presence into the neighborhoods. Both victims were taken to local hospitals, and detectives have opened investigations into what led up to the gunfire.
What happened
The first call came from the 2300 block of Franklin Avenue, where officers arrived to find a man with at least one gunshot wound. New Orleans EMS took him to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to WGNO. Minutes later, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Lizardi and North Prieur streets in the Lower Ninth Ward, where they found a second adult man, also suffering from at least one gunshot wound, who was transported to the hospital as well, the station reported.
Police response and investigation
The NOPD said officers processed both scenes while detectives stayed on site to collect evidence and talk with any witnesses who were willing to speak. Officials have not released details about possible suspects or a motive, and the department said both investigations remain active.
Where this fits in the city
St. Roch and the Lower Ninth fall within the NOPD’s Fifth District, an area that has faced recurring gun violence in recent years. District-level breakdowns show shootings remain concentrated in parts of the east side, and those patterns highlight ongoing challenges for both policing and community safety, according to the Metropolitan Crime Commission.
How to help
Police are asking for help from anyone who might have seen or recorded something in either area. Tips, video or other information can be reported to NOPD Homicide at 504-658-5300 or to CrimeStoppers at 504-822-1111. Residents can also use the NOPD non-emergency line at 504-821-2222, according to the City of New Orleans. Investigators say any footage or detail, no matter how small it might seem, could help them piece together what happened at both scenes.
