King Parade Shooting Injures Five In New Orleans

A Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade in New Orleans yesterday was the site of an outbreak of shooting, and several were wounded in the Monday fracas.

The King parade shooting happened in the Central City area of New Orleans, about 30 minutes after the parade honoring the famously non-violent civil rights leader had concluded. Reports indicate that the shots were fired outside a small grocery store in the vicinity of LaSalle Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in the area, but authorities also say the gunfire appeared to be unrelated to parade festivities.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the King parade shooting happened in the early afternoon, and the vehicle from which the shots were fired headed toward the river:

“The shots were fired from the vehicle about 1 p.m., about half an hour after the annual parade honoring King went by. The shooting did not appear to be related to the parade, officials said.

… The car sped off in the direction of the Mississippi River, [New Orleans Police Supt. Ronal] Serpas told reporters at the scene.”

The irony of an outbreak of violence on a day meant to honor the revered rights fighter was not lost on Supt. Serpas, who commented after the King parade shooting on the sadly notable timing of the incident:

“It’s the state of affairs in our nation that young men do not heed the words of Martin Luther King Jr.”

At the scene, Serpas commented:

“So many young men in America are angry and bitter and here in New Orleans is no exception… And they use violence as a way to settle disputes as opposed to peace. So, anytime we have an act of violence like this on Martin Luther King day it’s really a bit more sad.”

No arrests have been made in the King parade shooting, but there is surveillance video of the incident currently being reviewed by police.