One man is injured after he was shot by officers Saturday morning while responding a report of a person pointing a firearm at bystanders near the corner of Bourbon and St. Louis streets, according to the New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson.
New Orleans Eighth District Police officers responded to the call at 7:26 a.m. when they encountered the man armed with a gun, Ferguson said.
There was an exchange of gun fire between the police and the man, who was “struck multiple times,” New Orleans Police said.
Ferguson said four officers responded and three fired their service weapons at the man, who was struck in the chest.
The man was transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to the chest, Ferguson said.
No officers were injured in the incident, he said.
New Orleans Police’s Force Investigation Team, which investigates police use of force is investigating the incident, Ferguson said, adding that the crime scene stretches from the 400 to 500 blocks of St. Louis Street.
The four officers who responded were re-assigned as part of the New Orleans Police Department’s standard protocol pending the investigation, Ferguson said.
The New Orleans Independent Police Monitor was on scene following the shooting and federal monitoring agencies were also notified, including the FBI, Ferguson added.
“[It’s an] unfortunate incident whenever our officers have to resort to using their weapons during their course of duties,” Ferguson said. “We are praying for the family of this individual as well as our officers.”
It wasn’t immediately clear in front of which bar the gun fight occurred, Ferguson said, but added that it happened outside.
City-owned public safety surveillance cameras reportedly captured the footage of the shooting, according to New Orleans Police, which is being shared with the department’s Real Time Crime Center. Ferguson said the department will enact its video release policy.
The incident is under investigation, Ferguson said.
Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to call the New Orleans Police Department at 504-658-6800.
Read New Orleans Police Department’s use of force policy here.