New Orleans – and specifically the French Quarter, the city’s vibrant historic center where Bourbon Street is located – was still in the throes of New Year’s celebrations when the vehicle ran into a crowd early Wednesday.
Crowds had gathered to attend an open-air concert and New Year’s countdown, with restaurants offering special deals and performances, according to the city’s official website. LGBTQ parties featuring dancing and drag cabaret were taking place elsewhere on Bourbon Street, the heart of the city’s gay community – just blocks from where the incident took place.
Many celebrations had been aimed at college football fans descending on the city for the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which is scheduled to take place Wednesday — including a parade that had taken place Tuesday.
On Monday, the New Orleans Police Department had said it would be staffed “at 100 percent” during the festivities, adding it had 300 additional officers assisting from partner law enforcement agencies.
It would also work with local, state and federal partners to provide security coverage citywide, the police statement said, adding that they would deploy “a strong presence of marked and unmarked police vehicles, as well as officers on foot, bike, and horseback.”
