(UPDATE: The death toll has climbed to 15. it was originally reported that 10 people died.)
A pickup truck plowed into a crowd of New Year’s revelers on Canal and Bourbon Streets around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning, leaving 15 people dead and 26 others injured in what local officials are calling a terror attack.
New Orleans Police Chief Ann Kirkpatrick said the driver intentionally targeted pedestrians, speeding through the densely packed streets and firing at officers. Two officers were shot by the suspect and remain in stable condition.
“This is not a DUI incident,” Kirkpatrick said during a press briefing Wednesday morning. “The perpetrator was hellbent…because of the information we have, the FBI will be taking over this case.”
Officials said the suspect is dead, according to a report from ABC News. An explosive device was also discovered in the area, prompting law enforcement to urge residents and visitors to avoid Bourbon Street and surrounding neighborhoods.
“We had over 300 officers out here, but the intentional mindset of the perpetrator made this difficult to prevent,” Kirkpatrick said.
The tragedy unfolded during one of New Orleans’ busiest nights of the year, as locals and tourists alike gathered to celebrate the start of 2025. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, and authorities are working to determine a motive.
The FBI has taken over the investigation, citing the discovery of the explosive device and the suspect’s actions as evidence of a coordinated attack.
This is a developing story.
