In a tragic incident on New Year’s Day in 2025, a man intentionally drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter, killing ten people and injuring dozens more. The man exhibited intentional behavior, driving around barricades and firing on police officers as he attempted to run over as many people as possible. Two officers were hit by gunfire but were in stable condition. While some officials referred to it as a likely terrorist attack, others did not characterize it that way. The man’s identity and whereabouts were not immediately clear.
Governor Jeff Landry called the incident a horrific act of violence and urged people to avoid the area. The popular tourist district was filled with New Year’s Day revelers at the time of the attack. Witnesses reported that a white truck crashed into people on Bourbon Street at a high speed, and the driver then began firing a weapon from inside the vehicle. A total of 30 people were transported to area hospitals with injuries, and 10 were confirmed dead, with at least 35 hospitalized. The FBI was investigating, and possible improvised explosives were found nearby, though it was unclear if they were related to the attack.
President Biden was briefed about the attack, and his administration offered support to the city of New Orleans in the wake of the tragedy. Multiple witnesses reported hearing gunfire after the truck crashed into the crowd, with police officers returning fire. Jim and Nicole Mowrer, visiting from Iowa, witnessed the incident and attempted to help wounded victims but realized many had died. They described the chaos and devastation that unfolded after the truck slammed through a barricade, indicating that they heard gunfire and saw police running in response. Emergency responders arrived on the scene to treat the injured.
The Mowrers recounted the harrowing experience of being close to where the attack began and witnessing the aftermath of the truck hitting people. They saw individuals with injuries from the impact but did not notice gunshot wounds among the victims. After the gunfire ceased and emergency responders arrived, they left the area. The tragedy shocked the community and highlighted the need for heightened security measures during large events and gatherings. As the investigation continued and the FBI took the lead, the nation mourned the loss of life and hoped for a swift resolution to the incident.
