Quote:Nineteen injured after gunman opens fire on New Orleans Mother's Day parade
Police say many victims grazed and most wounds not life-threatening after shooting at parade
guardian.co.uk, Monday 13 May 2013 08.41 BST


Police officers investigate the scene of a shooting at a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans. Photograph: Michael Democker/AP
Gunmen opened fire on dozens of people marching in a Mother's Day neighbourhood parade in New Orleans on Sunday, wounding at least 19, including two children.


Police said that many of the victims were grazed and most of the wounds weren't life-threatening. No deaths were reported.


FBI spokeswoman Mary Beth Romig said federal investigators have no indication that the shooting was an act of terrorism.


"It's strictly an act of street violence in New Orleans," she said. The southern city has one of the highest violent crime rates in the US.


A news release said the wounded included two 10-year-olds. It also said two people were in surgery.


As many as 400 people joined in the procession that stretched for about 3 blocks in what's known as a second-line parade, a loose procession in which people dance down the street, often following behind a brass band. They can be impromptu or planned and are sometimes described as moving block parties.


Officers were interspersed with the marchers, which is routine for such events. Only about half the participants were in the immediate vicinity of the shooting, Serpas said.


Police saw three suspects running from the scene. No arrests had been made as of late afternoon.


A social club called The Original Big 7 organised Sunday's event. The group was founded in 1996 at a housing project, according to its MySpace page.


The neighbourhood where the shooting happened was a mix of low-income and middle-class houses, some boarded up. As of last year, the neighbourhood's population was about 60% of its level before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.


Police vowed to make swift arrests.


"We'll get them. We have good resources in this neighbourhood," Serpas said.

Anthony Thorne Wrote:The notion that it was 'strictly an act of street violence' committed by a group of men should set loud alarm bells ringing. How do they know it was 'strictly' such an act rather than anything else? Did they interview the perpetrators? Did they have evidence immediately at hand to rule out terrorism? The statement from the FBI seems designed to lead readers away from errant, unwanted speculation. If armed perpetrators jointly attended the parade to commit a shooting, there was a conspiracy which involved at least two people, and which probably involved more.

If nothing else, it looks like the Years of Lead have started in America.

Quote:"We would like to remind the community and Akein Scott that the time has come for him to turn himself in," Serpas said at a news conference outside police headquarters.


A photo of Scott hung from a podium in front of the police chief. "We know more about you than you think we know," he said.

Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

Quote:"We would like to remind the community and Akein Scott that the time has come for him to turn himself in," Serpas said at a news conference outside police headquarters.


A photo of Scott hung from a podium in front of the police chief. "We know more about you than you think we know," he said.


Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

Quote:

Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

David Guyatt Wrote:ABC & Fox News reports. Read and weep at the dire state of media reporting.

This is Fox:

Quote:"We would like to remind the community and Akein Scott that the time has come for him to turn himself in," Serpas said at a news conference outside police headquarters.


A photo of Scott hung from a podium in front of the police chief. "We know more about you than you think we know," he said.

Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

Compare with ABC News:

Quote:"We would like to remind the community and Akein Scott that the time has come for him to turn himself in," Serpas said at a news conference outside police headquarters.


A photo of Scott hung from a podium in front of the police chief. "We know more about you than you think we know," he said.


Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

Two of these three para's have also been used in the same order by the Scottish Daily Record and Yahoo News.

When the media simply repeat without thought or fact checking, the handouts of a PR team over major events as this one was, then they truly no longer can expect to be taken seriously.

Then there's this:

Quote:

Serpas said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter.

It wasn't "too early to say" last Sunday and yesterday, however.

It now seems all stories are now focusing on only one shooter - a lone gunman no less - whereas the original reports of there being three different shooters appear to be fading into obscurity.

Watch this space.

Peter Lemkin Wrote:Hmmm....patterns here.....at the 'Batman Shoot-em Up' most people reported two or more shooters or persons involved...then one was arrested drugged/mind-controlled out of his mind in his car and declared the 'lone-nut'....now here is another similar incident and there have been MANY other such 'events' following this pattern I could name.

Magda Hassan Wrote:

Peter Lemkin Wrote:Hmmm....patterns here.....at the 'Batman Shoot-em Up' most people reported two or more shooters or persons involved...then one was arrested drugged/mind-controlled out of his mind in his car and declared the 'lone-nut'....now here is another similar incident and there have been MANY other such 'events' following this pattern I could name.

That's very unAmerican of you Peter. No respect for the fine American tradition of 'lone nuts'. Even if they are manufacturered en mass..... Do you think this is a some conspiracy or some thing? Now go back to sleep. :zzzz: