Mardi Gras Parade Shooting: Young Girl Among 5 Victims During Deadly Attack in New Orleans

A shooting along a Mardi Gras parade route in New Orleans resulted in one fatality and four injuries on Sunday, according to authorities.

The incident occurred at around 9:30 p.m. local time at the intersection of St. Charles Avenue and Terpsichore Street, a New Orleans Police Department spokesperson informed FOX News Digital.

Gunman Arrested in Shooting at Mardi Gras Parade

Three of the five victims were males, while the remaining two were female and a child. All of the victims were sent to a hospital for medical care. The status of the girl and all but one of the other victims is stable. One of the remaining victims, a man, has been pronounced dead.

Police reported that a suspect was arrested in connection with the incident immediately after bullets were fired. In addition, two guns were confiscated. After bullets were fired, police were in close proximity to the site.

Investigation into the incident was aided by the New Orleans Police Department, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Department, the Louisiana State Police, and the Department of Prisons. Officers are attempting to gather information on the suspect, as well as a probable motive, and to investigate whether or not more individuals were involved.

The slain victim is a young teenager between the ages of 15 and 18, New Orleans Police Acting Superintendent Michelle Woodfork stated during a Monday press conference. The four other victims, including an 18-year-old male, a 22-year-old woman, and a 24-year-old woman, have been treated and released from hospitals.

The gunshots occurred at 9:30 p.m. along the route of the famed Krewe of Bacchus parade - normally held in the days preceding Mardi Gras on Tuesday - disrupting a characteristic New Orleans celebration and highlighting the pervasiveness of gun violence in many aspects of American society.

Woodfork stated that New Orleans police and personnel from other agencies were already in the vicinity when they heard gunfire. The superintendent stated that "within seconds" they had captured a suspect and discovered two guns at the site, as per CNN.

The suspect in custody was identified by Woodfork as 21-year-old Mansour Mbodj, who was apprehended for unlawfully carrying a firearm. It was unclear whether Mbodj had a counsel who could comment on his behalf.

The shooting, according to Woodfork, was a "isolated event." Officers are dedicated to ensuring that Mardi Gras is a safe, family-friendly celebration, according to Woodfork, who noted that 112 firearms had been seized near parade routes.

At least a dozen bullets were fired, according to witnesses, sending horrified bystanders fleeing. The alleged shooter's identity has not been disclosed, and no motive has been determined. One eyewitness told WWL that before to the incident, police had broken up confrontations amongst parade attendees.

Mass Shooting in US

Per The Independent, NOPD deputy chief Hans Ganthier stated during the news conference that it is currently unknown if the altercation preceded the shooting or what the suspect's relationship was with the victims. He added that upon hearing the gunfire, officers from the NOPD, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Department, the Louisiana State Police, and the Department of Prisons responded promptly.

When the masses withdrew, the police cordoned off the area. The streets were filled with discarded confetti, plastic, and personal goods as people scurried for safety. Ganthier expressed regret that gun violence had marred the city's yearly festivities. The incident occurred around one mile south of the French Quarter region of the city.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, eight mass shootings occurred over the course of two days during the weekend in the United States. It defines mass shootings as occurrences in which four or more individuals, excluding the perpetrator, were shot.

Before the shooting, local leaders had expressed concern about the possibility for violence in light of increased crime and a lack of police personnel. According to the Associated Press, the New Orleans Police Department has around 900 officers, hundreds fewer than what experts deem necessary.

An additional 125 Louisiana state troopers were added to the force in an effort to preserve safety and order throughout the celebrations. An estimated one million out-of-town tourists attend the Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans each year. During the two weeks preceding Mardi Gras, city districts host hundreds of parades and street celebrations, with the number of events increasing in intensity.

Mardi Gras is historically a debaucherous precursor to Lent, the six-week long religious fast preceding Easter. The next year, when Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in 2005, a reduced celebration was conducted. During the 2020 celebrations, the number of Covid cases in the city skyrocketed, and several parades were canceled in 2021. The holiday is also widely observed throughout Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.

Since the late 1960s, the Krewe of Bacchus procession has been a staple of the Mardi Gras schedule. According to its website, the crew has more than 1,500 members and 33 animated super-floats. The Sunday evening procession had began at 5 p.m. and was approaching its conclusion when the shooting happened.