A young woman was killed, and 11 people were wounded during a mass shooting outside a New Orleans nightclub that sent patrons scrambling for cover and bystanders running for their lives.
"When I heard the shots, I ran to the bathroom and grabbed a couple people who were with me and kind of got low," a woman told local TV station WDSU. "We stayed until it got settled, but nobody knew what was next or if there would be more shots. There was a lot of panic and a lot of chaos."
The gunfire erupted around 11:55 p.m. Sunday outside the Republic NOLA nightclub in the city's Warehouse District east of the Mississippi River.
At least four rounds reportedly pierced the club's doors, and video footage broadcast by WWLTV showed multiple bullet holes in a parked car.
No arrests have been made, and detectives are continuing to investigate, New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said during an afternoon news conference.
Kelsey Holt of Nashville, Tennessee, told nola.com she was awakened in a nearby hotel room by six or seven shots that she initially mistook for fireworks.
Holt said she looked out a window and saw 30 to 40 people "pouring out" of the club and a small group surrounding a woman who was laying facedown in the street.
"I feel awful for everyone involved," she added.
Family and friends identified the slain woman as Jezreel Aquilla, 24, of Harvey, Louisiana, and described her as part of a solid, church-going family, according to nola.com.
"I know for sure those shots weren't meant for her," family friend Kinmont Garrett, 30, said.
Authorities identified the wounded only as six women and five men.
Nola.com said emergency medical workers rushed some to a local hospital, and others were transported in private vehicles.
Republic owner Nick Thomas told nola.com, "The only thing I can say at this time is that luckily all of the staff are safe and the incident was entirely outside."
