NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans police have arrested a suspect who allegedly shot a man on Canal Street just minutes after a Carnival parade passed by Friday night.
The shooting happened near the intersection of Canal Street and University Place around 8:45 p.m., according to NOPD Assistant Superintendent Marlon Defillo.
“We believe two individuals, one 17 and one 16 year old were involved in an argument at which point they apparently walked into the middle of the street where the 16 year old produced a semi automatic pistol and fired at least one gunshot, striking the 17 year in the left calf,” said Defillo.
Witnesses tell Eyewitness News larger than normal crowds were close to the scene in light of the fact the Krewe of Oshun parade rolled just about three minutes prior. Defillo estimates it was more like ten minutes after the parade passed before shots were fired. The parade route includes a stretch of Canal Street about 30 yards away from the scene of the shooting.
Harold Adinryan, who was working inside a convenient store adjacent to where the shooting took place says immediately after the two gun shots were heard, a crowd of about two hundred people could be seen frantically rushing down Canal Street.
"People were running like crazy, trying to save their life.”
“There were dozens of police officers within proximity of where the shooting occurred, heard the gun shot, responded, and reacted and arrested the 16 year old approximately a block and a half away from when the shooting occurred.” Defillo adds the arrest was made just moments after the shooting.
The arrested suspect was in possession of a small caliber handgun, according to Defillo. As for the victim, he was rushed away in an ambulance to a nearby hospital where is said to be in good condition.
