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Gunmen shoot 19 in New Orleans

May 13, 2013

Gunmen opened fire during a Mother's Day neighborhood parade in New Orleans, injuring at least 19 people. Two children were among the victims.

https://p.dw.com/p/18WZG
Bystanders comfort a shooting victim while awaiting emergency services in New Orleans following Sunday's shooting. (Time-Picayune/Landov)
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Marchers in a second-line parade, a loose procession of people following a brass band, had their Mother's Day celebrations disrupted on Sunday by gunfire in New Orleans.

None of the victims reportedly sustained life-threatening injuries, but New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Ronal Serpas said three or four were undergoing surgery.

"At this time, we have no indication that anyone will perish from today's events," Serpas said.

Two 10-year-olds were reportedly injured during the shooting.

Motive in question

According to police, three suspects were witnessed as they fled the scene, but no arrests had yet been made.

Police were searching for the motive behind Sunday's violence.

"It appears that these two or three people just for a reason unknown to us, started shooting at, toward or in the crowd," Serpas said. "It was over in just a couple seconds."

The area of New Orleans where the shooting took place has both low-income and middle-class row homes, some boarded up, lining its streets.

Serpas assured the public and the victims that authorities would react swiftly to the violence and make arrests.

"We'll get them," Serpas said. "We have good resources in this neighborhood."

tm/jm (AP, AFP)