Ten people were killed and dozens injured early Wednesday when a man deliberately drove his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter, where revelers were celebrating the New Year, officials said. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick reported that the man bypassed barricades and sped down Bourbon Street with "very intentional behavior" before opening fire on officers.
"This man was trying to run over as many people as he could," Kirkpatrick stated, noting that two police officers were struck by gunfire but are in stable condition.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell referred to the incident as a "terrorist attack," but an FBI official who spoke alongside her did not categorize it in that manner.
The bustling tourist district was packed with New Year's Day revelers at the time of the incident.
Witnesses told CBS News reporter Kati Weis that a white truck sped into the crowd on Bourbon Street before the driver exited the vehicle and began firing a weapon, prompting police to return fire.
In a statement posted online, the City of New Orleans reported that 30 people were taken to local hospitals with injuries, and 10 fatalities were confirmed. Kirkpatrick later mentioned that the number of hospitalized individuals exceeded 30.
Weis observed multiple individuals on the ground receiving treatment for injuries near the intersection of Bourbon and Canal Streets.
Jim and Nicole Mowrer, visiting from Iowa, witnessed the incident unfold. Nicole recounted to CBS News that they had just enjoyed the city's fireworks display and were taking in the New Year's Day atmosphere in the French Quarter when they heard loud crashing noises from down the street. They then saw a white truck speeding through a barricade "at a high rate of speed."
After the crashes, the Mowrers reported hearing gunshots and rushed to assist those they found wounded, only to realize that some victims had already died.
"We were pretty, pretty close to where it all began," Nicole said, estimating that the truck struck people just a block away from where they had been walking.
"Once it passed us, we heard gunfire and saw police running in that direction," Nicole continued. "After the gunfire stopped, we stayed in an alcove until it was safe, then stepped into the street and came across several people who had been hit, wanting to see what we could do to help."
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