Mass shooting in Louisiana leaves 4 dead, 7 injured at July 4th block party
Police in Louisiana are investigating a mass shooting that left four people dead and seven injured during an annual Fourth of July block party.
The Shreveport Police Department said 11 people were shot and four died after the early Wednesday morning shooting in the city's MLK neighborhood. More than 200 people were attending the event.
Of the injured, one was in critical condition, police told the Shreveport Times, part of the Paste BN Network. The other six other victims were expected to recover.
Shreveport government officials gave a press conference Wednesday, where they spoke on the mass shooting the night before.
"The Martin Luther King neighborhood and the city were traumatized again overnight with acts of violence to lead to four people killed and seven seriously injured," Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said. "Every injury from gun violence affects all of us and diminishes us as a community. These deaths, these injuries are no exception."
Shreveport Councilwoman Tabitha Taylor also attended the press conference and spoke on the mass shooting, where she said that the next steps are finding justice for the victims' families.
"I don't have the words to share with you right now, that's going to make you feel any better," Taylor said. "So, at this point, what I am looking for is justice. I am looking for justice for the family. And I want that justice to reflect full prosecution, no sympathy, no empathy, because you didn't give any empathy to the people."
Taylor said the block party is an annual event in the community.
"I don't know why you would come to an event that is a family event that has taken place for 10 plus years without incident and ruin this event, for those looking to have nothing but a good time," she said.
Gunfire was exchanged for close to 15 minutes, Taylor said.
The shooting is among a handful of other fatal shootings that took place across the nation during the July 4th weekend, including one in Philadelphia and one in Washington D.C.
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said the mass shooting brings the Shreveport homicide number up to 39 for 2023. It is the fourth mass shooting in Shreveport this year.
"Last night was a horrible night here in Shreveport," Smith said.
Smith said the shooting began after multiple males engaged in an exchange of gunfire. No suspects have been identified, and they are still at large. Anyone with information on this shooting is being advised to report it to the Caddo Shreveport Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373 or send a tip via their app, P3tips.
"We need your help," said Smith. "Many of you that are listening or will see this, were here last night and saw what happened. Many of you have heard what happened. We ask that you please give us a call. Help us to bring those who are responsible for this to justice."
More: Officials, police tour the scene of Shreveport July 4th block party mass shooting
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards shared in a prior statement to USA Today Network, "the mass shooting in Shreveport on July Fourth is both deeply disturbing and heartbreaking. I’m asking everyone to pray for the families who lost loved ones and for those survivors who are recovering."
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Difficulty reaching victims
Local TV stations KSLA and KTBS reported police said it was difficult for first responders to initially reach the scene because there were so many cars at the party.
“Getting here and getting EMS here was a difficult thing," Shreveport police Lt. Van Wray told KSLA. "A lot of us had to park our cars and take off running because there were so many cars on the side of the street."
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Contributing: Kate Perez, Paste BN
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.