One of the victims is possibly paralyzed and may never walk again, the mayor said.
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Tyler Gamble, a police spokesman, told The New York Times that police learned from witnesses that “there were two groups that were firing shots back and forth at each other, and then ran off after each other on foot”.
Ten people were taken to hospital in ambulances, and others went in private vehicles, police said.
Landrieu recalled a grandmother telling him afterwards, “It’s a damn shame that young people can’t even breathe fresh air at the playground'”. We’re going after these gunmen with everything we have”. City police officers had been monitoring the parade, but witnesses said they were beginning to disperse as the after-party kept going.
Damien Gaines said he was with his two sons, ages 10 and 13, and their 10-year-old cousin had strolled over to check out music at the playground on Sunday.
Brittany Adamson says that about a half-hour or so before the gunfire started at a New Orleans playground, the crowd was much smaller than the one described by police.
“This is a classic case where we need citizens’ help”, New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael S. Harrison told reporters.
They said police had been on their way to disband the impromptu gathering, which was not permitted, when two or more suspects – for unknown reasons – began shooting in the crowd.
The city’s police chief and mayor were scheduled to discuss the shooting at a news conference Monday afternoon.
A crowd of more than 300 in the U.S. city had gathered for the making of a music video when rival groups exchanged fired. The shooting followed a parade by the Nine Times Social and Pleasure Club which took place a block away from the crime scene. Another bullet shattered her truck windshield.
Eyewitnesses said they saw multiple people laying in the grass of the park immediately following the shootout. We know there were hundreds of people out there, which means there were hundreds of witnesses.
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Landrieu said the NOLA For Life Cease Fire Team is holding a community response at Bunny Friend park at 5 p.m. Authorities are asking anyone with information on the shootout to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
