2 dead, 10 injured in shooting along parade route in New Orleans; the investigation is ongoing

Two people were killed and 10 others were injured in two separate shootings Sunday during a popular New Orleans parade, authorities said.

The New Orleans Police Department said it is investigating two incidents, a shooting and a homicide, that occurred Sunday afternoon along the parade route.. According to the police, a total of 12 people received gunshot wounds, including two who died.

“There are two different scenes here,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick said at a news conference Sunday night. “There are two different filming events. They are 45 minutes apart.”

Police said the first incident happened around 3:40 p.m. local time while driving on the second line in the city’s Saint-Roch district, northeast of the popular French Quarter area. Officers reported hearing gunfire and found eight victims with gunshot wounds.

According to police, all eight victims were taken to a local hospital, and another victim later arrived at the hospital. Kirkpatrick said a preliminary investigation indicated shots were fired into the crowd, as well as a vehicle and two guns.

About 45 minutes later, officers responded to a separate report of a shooting at the intersection and found two victims at the scene, police said. Emergency workers pronounced one of the victims dead at the scene, and the second victim was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

A third victim was reportedly involved in the incident but was privately taken to the hospital and is in stable condition, police said.

According to the New Orleans Police Department, police “immediately terminated the second line event” as part of the investigation. Kirkpatrick said it’s unclear at this time if the two incidents are related because they happened 45 minutes apart.

Police did not release any suspect information, and no arrests had been reported as of Sunday evening.

New Orleans police have a “history” with the second line parade

Kirkpatrick said the New Orleans Police Department has “a history with this particular second line.” In 2013 19 people were injured and one was trampled after gunfire broke out during an unofficial Second Line parade on Mother’s Day.

“This particular second line is one of our biggest second lines in the city. It attracts thousands of people,” Kirkpatrick said. “It’s a great event, no doubt about it.”

About 100 officers were assigned to the event, according to Kirkpatrick, who noted that the department assigned additional officers “knowing that (the event) could lead to violence.”

According to the Second Lines website, Second Lines are cultural parades organized by the Social Aid, Relief and Recreation Clubs of New Orleans. The first line is the main part of the parade and the brass band, while the second line is “people who follow the brass band to enjoy the music and dancing,” according to the website.

“Second Lining is a dance form where participants dance and walk along the SAPC in a free form African style. Second Lining is one of the most African retentive cultures in the United States,” according to the website.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Orleans parade shooting: Police investigate fatal attacks