3 dead, 7 others injured in Claiborne Ave. shooting

NEW ORLEANS, LA (WVUE) - Three people were killed and seven were injured after two suspects opened fire on a crowd Saturday night on South Claiborne Avenue.

Police reported the shooting around 8:35 p.m. at the strip mall in the 3400 block of South Claiborne Avenue. The two suspects were described as wearing hooded-style clothing, one brandishing a gun and the other a long gun, even taking time to stand over one victim, firing multiple shots. After the suspects opened fire on the crowd, they fled on foot toward Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

The three deceased were described as two men and one woman. Five men and two women were transported to local hospitals, one of which police described in critical condition and is currently in surgery. Police say the other six are being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

"This was an extremely tragic incident," said NOPD Chief Michael Harrison. "A lot of people were out here tonight. A lot of people we know saw what happened, heard what happened. We need more than anything for people to come forward to help the NOPD solve this case by helping us find more evidence, find out who's responsible for this so we can hold them accountable for the three people who have died out here tonight and for the other seven people who were injured."

The NOPD responded to the incident alongside EMS, ATF, Louisiana State Police and the Housing Authority of New Orleans and are actively working the crime scene.

Mayor Latoya Cantrell responded to the shooting in a statement:

"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. Three more lives — gone. It has to end. This happened near my neighborhood, on the edge of Broadmoor. It's unacceptable anywhere," said Cantrell. 

"We are grateful to those on the scene tonight: the NOPD, EMS, the chaplains and the social workers. We will dedicate every resource necessary to ending this horror and seeing justice done."

Harrison was later asked if he believed the incident to be personal for a possible motive.

"This has to be personal. Firing indiscriminately into a crowd, shooting 10 people, killing three -- that's personal," he said. "It doesn't get more personal and we take it personal. So whoever did this, you should know that the law enforcement community takes it personal, so we're coming for you."

Harrison urges those involved to contact the NOPD and not take matters into their own hands.

"If violence is going to be the life you choose, we're going to make sure prison if going to be the price you pay," said Harrison in his closing statement.

If anyone has any information about this shooting, they are asked to contact Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111. Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Police remind everyone that whoever calls in with information can do so anonymously.

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