Five Bystanders Wounded in New Orleans Police Shootout

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Five people waiting at a downtown New Orleans bus stop were wounded by gunfire during a police shootout with an armed robbery suspect, authorities said, in a city weekend marred with multiple shootings. The shootout that injured the five bystanders happened Sunday night, and officials said the robbery suspect was killed during an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and officers with the New Orleans Police Department and the Louisiana State Police that stretched over two city blocks. The New Orleans Police Department said officers investigating two armed robberies that happened last week confronted a man deemed a person of interest in the crimes, according to local news reports. Police said the man, whom they haven't identified, fired a gun at officers as they approached. New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said at a press briefing that it was too early to tell who fired the bullets that hit the bystanders at the bus stop. Of those wounded, four victims were listed in stable condition at a local hospital, while the fifth victim was in critical condition Sunday night. Authorities haven't released their names. A New Orleans police officer also suffered injuries when his vehicle flipped as he attempted to reach the scene. Ferguson and State Police Superintendent Col. Kevin Reeves expressed remorse for the injured bystanders. But Ferguson defended officers' actions, saying they were fired on first and shot back to defend themselves,...
Source: JEMS: Journal of Emergency Medical Services News - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Trauma Patient Care News Source Type: news