Monica Hernandez / Eyewitness News
NEW ORLEANS - After a bloody attack in the Marigny last weekend, neighbors are working to help police in the future. They're installing private security cameras.
Police say half a dozen people were involved in a bloody attack in the Marigny last weekend, which was captured on cell phone and business surveillance video. According to police, one man was beaten with a brick. Another was stabbed. Another was beaten against a truck. It happened steps from Frenchmen Street, and hours after Krewe du Vieux.
Police said surveillance video can be invaluable for investigations, but sometimes cameras set up in one area don't show enough of a crime.
"Right now we're not exactly sure who the aggressor was in that incident," said Lt. Anthony Caprera, with the NOPD's 8th District. "We do have some video surveillance that captures a part of the incident that occurred there, but we don't have it from start to finish."
But neighbors one block away are working to give police a broader view in the future. After months of planning, they began installing their own security cameras last Sunday. By next month, many homes in the 2000 block of Burgundy will be equipped with high-definition cameras.
"These cameras you can tell what somebody's eye colors are," said neighbor Joe Bonda, who installed cameras on his home Saturday. "They're night cameras too. They have infrared emitters so they can see in the dark, in complete darkness."
Ken Caron was the first to install cameras as part of the neighborhood project. He said once the final camera is in place, neighbors will link IP addresses so they can monitor each other's homes, and instantly see their block.
"We can, as neighbors, we can tap into each others cameras and we can monitor them, from our iPhones, our iPads, our TV sets," said Caron. "We'll be able to look at the full scope of the street, and it's quite an achievement really."
Neighbors said their decision to install cameras is in response to a recent spike in crime. They want to be able to work together to quickly help police if a crime happens in the future.
"It gives us a sense that if something does happen, it'll get solved a little quicker," said Caron, who noted that the cameras may not necessarily serve as a deterrent.
Neighbors say their cameras and recording systems cost less than $1,000 per household. Police maintain a list of homes and businesses that have surveillance cameras. Detectives say it often comes in handy in solving crimes in the 8th District, which includes the CBD, the French Quarter, and the Marigny.
Meanwhile, detectives ask anyone with information on last weekend's stabbing to call police at 504-658-6080.
