From Rick Jervis of USA Today
NEW ORLEANS — A dispute lingering from Carnival season between two men escalated into gunfire just outside the French Quarter this past weekend, resulting in seven gunshot victims and casting a negative light on the tourist-driven district.
It’s not clear if the injured bystanders, ranging in age from 15 to 50, were out-of-town tourists enjoying the French Quarter Festival, a three-day music and food celebration that ended Sunday, or local residents, New Orleans Police Assistant Superintendent Marlon Defillo said.
More than 50 extra officers were patrolling Canal Street because of the festival, which had just ended for the night, but were unable to capture the assailant, who managed to blend in with the crowd and escape, he said.
“Unfortunately, you have individuals with total disregard to public safety who decided to act violently,” Defillo said. No one was seriously hurt, he said.
Six of the victims were treated with minor injuries and released from area hospitals, he said. The seventh was one of the two men in the argument and remained in guarded condition.
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