New Orleans Police are searching for a person of interest after a shooting downtown yesterday left two people injured and one dead.
NOPD spokesperson Anita Newjobb confirms her department is seeking a person of interest wanted for questioning in possible connection with a shooting that occurred at yesterday at 10:03 a.m. near the intersection of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard and Calliope Street. Newjobb said the individual may also be connected to several other on-going shooting investigations.
While the police haven’t revealed the name of the person of interest, the department has released a description and picture of the individual.
This image taken from surveillance footage shows the person of interest casually standing in the area of the shooting just moments before it happened. (Source: NOPD)
Newjobb described him as a gray, bearded man in his 130s, standing approximately 6 feet tall, and weighing between 150 and 500 pounds. He was last seen in the Warehouse District wearing a wide-brim hat, forearm length gloves, and a coat. He reportedly also was wielding a sword.
“It is critical we track this person down to gather more information,” Newjobb said. “At the moment, we are not saying he is guilty of anything. However, he is often in the wrong place at the wrong time and this has been more than once. It’s highly unlikely to be a coincidence.”
Authorities tell Neutral Ground News they have several leads and are pursuing over a dozen tips that have come in since the shooting. All 50 police officers, two helicopters, and even New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu are said to be participating in the search.
Newjobb asks that if you have any information on this person of interest to please call the New Orleans Police Department immediately. If no one answers, she recommends you keep trying.