NOPD arrests man for firing shots in Jackson Square

NEW ORLEANS, LA (WVUE) -- Gunshots fired in front of Jackson Square Sunday afternoon send people running. Witnesses tell FOX 8 exclusively what happened during the freak shooting.

Carriage driver Colin Tyler says he heard a series of pops then explains, "Everybody started running. One of the entertainers from across the street ran over here to see. I couldn't tell what was happening but I heard the shots."

A man visiting from Memphis says, "We were really surprised, really shocked. I saw the area where it occurred, I could tell the people around that area were panicked and scared."

Artist Alan Minor says a man who had been sitting next to him for about an hour, suddenly got up and started firing.  "When he got in front of my artwork he took five shots at it. It was a complete random act. I wasn't expecting it at all," said Minor.

No one was hit but the bullets shattered some of Minor's paintings which are done on plank boards. Minor says after the shooting, the man calmly walked down the street. Minor says he didn't see any police officers around. "There was a gentleman that was on a bicycle that followed him but he didn't know he was being followed and I guess as he got further down Decatur, he signaled the cops that this was the person that was firing the gun," Minor explained.

Hours after the shooting, state troopers were positioned in front of Jackson Square. Alan Minor says he's thankful no one was injured in the shooting which could've turned out a whole lot worse. "I can remake the art but being so close to an incident like that, your life flashes in front of your eyes," Minor said.

The NOPD arrested 41-year-old Eric Wilson of Georgia for the shooting. He faces five counts of illegal discharge of a firearm and aggravated criminal damage.