All photos by Eric T. Styles
Two people sustained gunshot wounds Saturday morning near the intersection of Bourbon and Toulouse streets, according to New Orleans Police.
Police said the shooting was reported shortly after 6 a.m. following argument between a man and a woman. Witnesses told The Quarter Rat that the two were arguing outside near a Toulouse Street bar when another woman walked up to the man and shot him in the chest at close range.
The gunfire injured a third woman, who was shot in the leg, police said.
Update 10/8/23, 1:29 p.m. EST: NOPD officials said they’ve arrested 30-year-old Shawnnika Smith Saturday evening in connection with the shooting.
Through an investigation, the NOPD identified Smith and issued a warrant for her arrest. Officials said she was located and arrested with the help of the NOPD’s Special Operations Division and was in possession of a 9 millimeter pistol. Police did not immediately say where Smith was arrested.
Smith was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center on suspicion of attempted second degree murder, two counts of aggravated second degree battery, aggravated assault with a firearm and illegal discharge of a firearm, NOPD said, adding that she is presumed innocent until found guilty.
Eric. T. Styles, The Quarter Rat’s art director, said he was inside of his Toulouse Street apartment when he heard a rapid burst of gunfire but initially believed the shots echoed from elsewhere within the French Quarter.
It wasn’t until about an hour later when Styles stepped out of his apartment and saw fire personnel hosing off the street when he learned people were shot half a block away from where he lives.
Emergency personnel transported to the shooting victims to a local hospital, although their conditions weren’t immediately known as of Saturday evening.
The shooting is under investigation, NOPD said.
Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to contact NOPD’s Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080. Anonymous callers can contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.