1 dead, 9 injured in New Orleans shooting; 2 men arrested

New Orleans police say one man is dead and nine others injured following a shooting in the French Quarter.

Police Supt. Michael Harrison said during a news conference that officers responded about 1:30 a.m. Sunday to the shooting at the intersection of Iberville and Bourbon streets.

Harrison said the shooting victims, whose ages range from 20 to 37, included two females and eight males. One male victim died at a hospital.

Harrison said police do not know what led to the shooting, but one male victim was among two men arrested on firearms charges.

Harrison said the shooting happened despite an increased police presence for the Bayou Classic football game Saturday night between Southern and Grambling State universities.

Glean Williams, who was selling hats and other items at a table a block away from the shooting, told the Times-Picayune that people ran into doorways and hotels or hid behind palm trees decorated with Christmas lights along nearby Canal Street.

“It was panic,” said Williams, 24. “Everybody started running. People getting run over, stepped on, knocked over.”

Harrison asked that anyone witnessing the shooting call police so “we can hold those accountable who committed this heinous crime and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”

During a news conference with Harrison, Mayor Mitch Landrieu said authorities would pursue the shooters “very, very aggressively.”

“It’s totally unacceptable,” Landrieu said. “I mean, the violence just continues to spin out of control with people brandishing weapons whenever they think they can.”

An investigation continues.

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UPDATES:

9:05 a.m.: This story has been updated with a witness account and comments from the mayor of New Orleans.

2:35 a.m.: Updated with information from Harrison.

This article was first posted at 1:35 a.m.