NEW ORLEANS — An armed robbery suspect was killed and five bystanders wounded when gunfire erupted between police officers and the suspect in downtown New Orleans Sunday night, according to news reports.
Witnesses described a wild scene with more than 50 shots fired. "It was like the 'Wild, Wild West' going on," one man told NOLA.com.
The shootout unfolded near Tulane Medical Center as a man described as a robbery suspect exchanged gunfire with officers, police said.
Breaking: NOPD says suspected armed robber identified at Canal and Elk, he opened fire on officers, they returned fire. Innocent bystanders hit with bullets. Louisiana State Police responded, LSP shot and killed the suspect. @JulianaWDSU @ESTWICKwdsu LIVE @wdsu at 10PM.
— Travers Mackel (@TraversWDSU) February 18, 2019
When the shooting ended, the suspect was dead and five bystanders had been wounded, one critically, NOLA.com reported.
No officers were injured in the shootout, but one was injured in a car accident on the way to the scene.
The investigation is continuing.
NOPD: 5 innocent bystanders struck in this exchange. All in stable except 1, who is in emergency surgery.
— Ramon Antonio Vargas (@RVargasAdvocate) February 18, 2019
An NOPD officer flipped a car on Napoleon Ave. while responding to the shooting incident in the CBD. The officer is “up and talking” at the hospital, according to NOPD spokesman. pic.twitter.com/zXXIVj62Mn
— NOLA.com (@NOLAnews) February 18, 2019
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