A tragic incident in New Orleans early Wednesday morning left at least 10 people dead and over 35 injured when a vehicle plowed into a crowd in the heart of the city's vibrant nightlife district. The incident occurred around 3:15 a.m. at the intersection of Bourbon Street and Iberville, an area teeming with revelers celebrating the New Year.
The vehicle, identified as a truck, reportedly barreled into the crowd at high speed. After the collision, the driver exited the truck and began firing a weapon, escalating the chaos. Police engaged in a shootout with the suspect, according to witness reports shared by CBS News. Emergency responders rushed to transport victims to local hospitals as authorities secured the area.
The scene was described as harrowing, with video footage and images capturing police cars, ambulances, and coroner’s office vehicles converging on the site. Eyewitnesses recounted moments of sheer panic as people scrambled to safety. Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick remarked that the perpetrator was "hell-bent on creating the carnage and damage he did," noting that the suspect bypassed barricades intentionally to target the crowd.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has now taken over the case and launched a full-scale investigation. Law enforcement agencies have urged the public to avoid the area while they manage the aftermath and assess the full extent of the devastation.
Thousands of people had gathered in the vicinity to celebrate the New Year, making the attack particularly devastating. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or clarified the suspect's motives, but they are working to determine whether this was an act of terrorism or another form of targeted violence.
This senseless act of violence has cast a pall over New Orleans’ celebrations, with local officials and residents mourning the loss of life and expressing support for the injured and their families. Further updates are expected as investigations progress.
