“‘This has to be personal,’ (New Orleans police superintendent Michael Harrison) added. ‘Firing indiscriminately into a crowd? Shooting 10 people? Killing three? That’s personal, it doesn’t get more personal and we take it personal, whoever did this, you should know that the law enforcement takes it personal and we’re coming for you.'” New Orleans’ top cop was commenting on last night’s shooting outside a Claiborne Avenue daiquiri shop.
That bar has been the scene of a number of shootings, some fatal, over the years and New Orleans is known for its significant level of gang-related crime.
“Two individuals clothed with what we believed to be hoods … approached from behind, right in front of the daiquiri shop right behind us, and opened fire one with, we believe, a rifle and one with a handgun on the crowd, ” New Orleans police superintendent Michael Harrison told reporters late Saturday.
“We believe they actually stood over one of the individuals and fired multiple rounds and then after that fled,” he said.
At least one publication named New Orleans America’s most dangerous city. While there’s plenty of competition for that dubious title, with towns like Baltimore, Chicago, Oakland, St. Louis and Detroit making strong cases for the honor, New Orleans certainly holds its own in that regard.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell mouthed the usual platitudes for the cameras:
“There is no place in New Orleans for this kind of violence. I speak for everyone in our city when I say we are disgusted, we are infuriated, and we have had more than enough,” Cantrell said. “Three more lives — gone. It has to end. This happened near my neighborhood, on the edge of Broadmoor. It’s unacceptable anywhere.”
The two hooded shooters are still on the loose.