Gunshots brought one of New Orleans’ major Mardi Gras parades to a halt late Sunday night, with one dead and four hospitalized, according to New Orleans police.
The giant floats in the Krewe of Bacchus were rolling down St. Charles Avenue near Terpsichore Street when parade attendees told media outlets they heard a dozen or so shots ring out around 9:30 p.m.
Among those shot was a 4-year-old girl, an 18-year-old man and 22- and 24-year-old women, who have since been released from the hospital. NOPD officials said the man who died was between the ages of 15 and 18 years old, but police did not give out more information about the victim at a Monday morning press conference.
Shortly after the shooting, police arrested a suspect near the parade route and confiscated two weapons. He was identified as 21-year-old Mansour Mbodj.
NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork said the shooting was still under investigation when asked about a motive, but added that the shooting was an "isolated incident that occurred near the parade route because someone decided the resolution was going to be ended with gunfire."
Woodfork also said during the Monday press conference that police and law enforcement partners, pulled in to secure Mardi Gras routes due to NOPD staffing shortages, have confiscated a total of 112 guns during the Carnival season in and around Mardi Gras events.
"We’re out there every day making sure this doesn’t occur," Woodfork said. "If you see anyone that may be carrying a weapon, let a police officer know. Prior to this incident, we were having a beautiful Mardi Gras season... We're serious about making this event truly safe."
Sunday’s mass shooting was one of several shootings that day, with five others shot and two reported dead, according to other NOPD press releases.
This story has been updated to include more information from an 11 a.m. Monday press conference.
