Sixteen people were shot and at least two killed on Halloween in New Orleans that included gunfire on Bourbon Street.
Around midnight, two men started firing at each other on Bourbon Street, near the intersection at St. Louis Street. When the gunfire stopped, Albert Glover, 25, of New Orleans, was dead and seven others injured. Police spokesman Garry Flot said the injuries were not life-threatening.
An argument that escalated to a fist-fight and then to gun play was the motive behind the Bourbon Street shooting.
Loyola students were on Bourbon Street during the shootings. Michael Murgado, general studies busisness sophomore, said he heard shots half a block away.
“He (the shooter) was at the corner, and then we started hearing pops. Everyone heard the gunshots, and I thought they were just pops, and then everyone just started running. I just jumped to sidewalk and watched everyone run in the opposite direction.”
Jorge Torres, accounting junior, was also on Bourbon Street when he heard gunfire.
“I was here, and it happened literally across the street. I just heard shots right there, ducked and ran.”
Another shooting came an hour after the one on Bourbon Street on Canal Street near the Quarter. Joshua Lewis, 19, of Marrero, La. was killed and three others wounded after Lewis bumped into Baltiman Malcom, sparking an argument that led to gunfire.
Police heard the shots and saw three men running away. Police chased down and arrested 24-year-old Malcom. He was booked with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder.
The others wounded were shot unintentionally as the gunmen unleashed a barrage of bullets, Serpas said. Those shootings fit the normal pattern in New Orleans, the chief said.
In the Bourbon Street shooting, the killer used a .45-caliber gun with an oversized ammunition clip, firing 32 times, Serpas said. Glover, who was killed, was also armed and did shoot back, Serpas said.
Three other shootings left four people injured in other areas of the city. No one died.
According to Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas, over 100 officers were dedicated to the French Quarter and Canal Street for Halloween.
“Police officers were within a few feet when this happened,” he said.
Santiago Caicedo contributed to this story. He can be reached at
