When the tragedy happened, the neighborhood was probably crowded with visitors and people enjoying the new year.
In a statement online, the City of New Orleans said: “The 8th District is currently working a mass casualty incident involving a vehicle that drove into a large crowd on Canal and Bourbon Street.”
“Public safety partners are responding on scene. Updates will follow as they are received.”
“Initial reports indicate that a car may have crashed into a group of people,” a representative for the New Orleans Police Department told CBS News. Deaths have been reported, but injuries are unclear.
According to witnesses who spoke to CBS News, a truck crashed into a crowd before the driver got out and brandished a weapon.
Then there were reports of gunfire coming from the area.
While in New Orleans, Jim and Nicole Mowrer reported witnessing a truck smash through a barricade. “We were pretty, pretty close to where it started,” they told the site.
“Once it was past us, we did hear gunfire, saw police running in that direction.”
Louisiana governor Jeff Landry has also spoken about the incident, writing on X: “A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning.”
“Please join Sharon and I in praying for all the victims and first responders on scene.”
“I urge all near the scene to avoid the area.”
Although the exact number of fatalities is yet unknown, it is thought that at least ten people have perished in the tragedy. At least thirty people have been hurt in the interim.
Several victims are seen in videos going viral on social media receiving on-the-ground medical attention for their wounds, while others are being taken to five nearby hospitals: University Medical Center, Touro Hospital, East Jefferson General Hospital, Ochsner Medical Center Jefferson Campus, and Ochsner Baptist Campus.
While investigations are being conducted, authorities are now cautioning the public to avoid the area.