U.S. New Year Begins with Blood in the Streets

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

The millions of us who have had the pleasure of spending a few days and nights in New Orleans and walking the streets of the French Quarter know that it is the quintessential party town, one of relaxed camaraderie where just about anything goes.   The legendary Bourbon Street, in particular, draws crowds like few other promenades in America, and with it blocked off to traffic in the evenings, tourists and revelers are literally swept along, tall drinks in hand, up and down the middle of the street, completely content to laugh, and drink, and go with the flow.

What a rich and obvious target for someone "hellbent" on inflicting maximum injury and death in the midst of a celebration.

Last night, well, early this morning, it happened.  An angry and very disturbed driver slammed his pickup truck through the Bourbon Street barricades at Canal Street and proceeded to plow through the New Year's reveler's at a high rate of speed, obviously intent on creating as much carnage as possible.   When his vehicle finally stopped, the driver began firing a weapon.  Police rushed to the stopped vehicle, returning fire as they did so, and now the driver is reportedly dead and two policement were wounded. 

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver of the murder vehicle exhibited "very intentional" behavior and that he had been "hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did."

An agent from the local FBI office, Althea Duncan, said that the FBI was taking charge of the investigation.  She also reported that possible improvised explosives were found near the scene, but it is currently unknown whether the materials were connected to the vehicular homicides or not.

At least ten people died in the horrific killing spree, and reports are that thirty-five others were admitted to area hospitals.  The full extent of the deaths and injuries are unlikely to be known for several more hours. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the bloody event as a "terrorist" attack, but the FBI at the scene are calling it only a "potential" act of terrorism.

(Note:  One shooter and one victim in New York City IS an act of terrorism.   What exactly is terrorism?)

Bourbon Street and much of the Quarter have been closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic today as authorities investigate the crime scene and surrounding area.  Businesses that would normally doing a brisk trade are shuttered.  

The Sugar Bowl is being played this afternoon in New Orleans, and that game, between the #2 Georgia Bulldogs and the #3 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, has brought thousands of additional tourists into the area.

Days change, months change, and even years change - but other crap never does.  This is the United States of America on the very first day on 2025.  Buckle up, Buttercup, because it looks like we are in for another year of blood-soaked rage and violence.

At least that's my unhappy prediction.