16 injured in U.S. shooting

At a news conference hosted after the New Orleans shootout incident, Mayor Mitch Landrieu called the incident unfortunate and said that it was really hard even for the authorities to patrol against a bunch of guys who decide to settle dispute in such public places without paying heed to the safety of the three hundred people between them.

New Orleans police Commander Chris Goodley, speaking in a video clip posted by the New Orleans “Times-Picayune” website, said the crowd at the park remained “orderly” after the shooting.

He says none of the injuries is life-threatening, but he doesn’t know yet how many people were hospitalized. “I need everyone to step up if you want to make this city a city of peace”.

Ten people were taken to the hospital in ambulances, and the others went in private vehicles, police said. Photos of the scene showed emergency workers wheeling a few of the wounded on gurneys while other people who appeared to be in pain lay on the ground.

Joseph Jordan and a friend were in a house across the street from the park when they heard gunshots.

Damien Gaines said he was with his two sons, ages 10 and 13, and their 10-year-old cousin had strolled over to check out music at the playground on Sunday.

“There were hundreds of people, upwards of 500 people probably, in this playground when this erupted”. Her 14-year-old daughter was hit once in the knee and five times in her backside. She and her mother came to Monday night’s rally because they’re frustrated with the level of violence in New Orleans.

One victim said that at first, she thought the fusillade was another false alarm.

Bloodied gauze pads, crime scene tape and a child’s bicycle could still be spotted in the park hours after the shooting on Sunday. He said it’s “highly possible” that the shooting was related to the city’s heroin trade but authorities are still investigating.

Police earlier said the people were there for an impromptu music video but Gamble later told reporters that while a video was being filmed, the event was primarily a block party.

Police Chief Michael Harrison explained just before shots rang out, units were already on the way to the park to disperse the large crowd that had gathered. The suspects were able to get away.

The murder rate in New Orleans reached a 43-year low last year at only 150, the lowest since 1971. He conceded, however, that many in the city don’t feel safe.