A tragic incident occurred at Republic NOLA, a nightclub in New Orleans, before midnight. Authorities reported that the shooting resulted in the death of one individual. The victim was discovered lying face down on the sidewalk outside of the club.
A total of eleven individuals, comprising six women and five men, sustained injuries in the shooting incident that occurred in the 800 block of South Peters Street. At present, there is no official update regarding the condition of the victims.
A 24-year-old woman from the area was identified as the shooting victim by a witness at Republic NOLA.
During that night at the club, there was another visitor who chose to hide in the bathroom. This individual also shared similar sentiments to what others had expressed.
“I heard music playing,” said witness Cayla Green.
According to Green, the sound of gunshots echoed through the air, repeatedly going “bop, bop, bop, bop.” It seemed like there were at least 10 shots fired. Green recalled that someone had warned others to move as they were about to unleash chaos. It was at that moment that the shots were fired.
Multiple city, state, and federal officials took to social media to address the situation. However, certain city council members urged the New Orleans Police Department to utilize a “padlock ordinance” as a means to revoke the club’s liquor license and potentially close it.
According to Thomas, the owner of the club, their establishment had never experienced any incidents before the shooting on Sunday night. He also clarified that the shooting suspect was not a customer who had visited the club previously.
He expressed his willingness to collaborate with city officials, while also requesting fairness in regards to the padlock ordinance. He emphasized the importance of this request, highlighting that his establishment is the only Black-owned bar in the vicinity.
New Orleans’ City Council President Helena Moreno expressed her deep concern about the recent mass shooting, describing it as a truly tragic event. She also voiced her apprehension about the potential increase in such incidents with the implementation of the state’s concealed carry law. Moreno emphasized that this law will create additional challenges for the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) in their efforts to remove firearms from the streets and prevent future shootings.
