In the early hours of New Year’s Day, the French Quarter of New Orleans was plunged into mourning when a truck driver plowed into a crowd at terrifying speed, followed by gunshots. This horrific incident claimed the lives of at least 10 people and injured more than 35 others, according to police and city officials.
Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick stated in a televised press conference, “This man intentionally sought to hit as many people as possible. He was determined to cause a massacre and inflict heavy damage.”
The attack occurred around 3:15 AM at the intersection of Canal Street and Bourbon Street, right in the midst of New Year’s celebrations. Bourbon Street, a renowned tourist destination with a long history in the French Quarter, is always crowded with tourists and locals drawn to its vibrant music and lively bars.
According to Kirkpatrick, the truck driver fired shots at police, and the truck struck two police officers. Fortunately, both officers are out of critical condition and are now stable. She added that over 300 police officers were on duty at the time to ensure security for New Year’s Eve.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the incident a “terrorist attack.” However, an FBI official offered a different perspective. Alethea Duncan, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans office, asserted, “This is not a terrorist attack.” Duncan further mentioned that a suspected homemade explosive device was found, and the FBI is working to determine if it was functional.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expressed his shock on social media platform X: “A horrific act of violence occurred on Bourbon Street early this morning.” He urged everyone to avoid the area of the attack to ensure safety and allow law enforcement to do their job.
The injured were quickly transported to at least five different hospitals across the city for emergency care and treatment, according to NOLA Ready Emergency Response. The White House also announced that President Joe Biden had contacted Mayor Cantrell to offer full support to New Orleans during this difficult time.
A couple who witnessed the event shared with CBS News that they heard a loud noise coming from the end of the street, and then they saw a white truck crash through barricades “at a high rate of speed.”
New Orleans has witnessed shootings and vehicles driving into crowds at parades before. In November 2024, two people were killed and 10 others injured in two separate shootings along parade routes and celebrations in New Orleans. In February 2017, a pickup truck driven by a man police suspected of being intoxicated plowed into a crowd watching a Mardi Gras parade, injuring more than 20 people. This latest incident once again raises alarms about security at public events and the pain such tragic events inflict on the community.
