A New Orleans playground shooting during a block party left at least 16 people injured in the city's Upper Ninth Ward on Sunday.
New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Michael Harrison said that authorities believe that two groups of people opened fire in the middle of a crowd of some 300 people during the
party at Bunny Friend Park, The Times-Picayune reported. All the victims were listed in stable condition as of late Sunday, police spokesman Tyler Gamble told the newspaper.
"Detectives are still working to determine the extent of all of the victims' injuries," the department said in a statement. "Information on the age and gender of all victims involved as well as the extent of their injuries will be provided when it is available."
Ten of the playground shooting victims were transported to area hospitals by emergency personnel. The other
six were taken by private vehicles, WDSU reported.
Witnesses told The Times-Picayune that the large get-together was an after party for the Nine Times Social Aide & Pleasure Club's annual second line parade, which ran through the Desire and Florida development neighborhoods.
Second line parades are neighborhood parades often led by a brass section that has become part of New Orleans tradition.
"We staffed the second line pretty heavily," Harrison told The Times-Picayune, adding that word "circulated through social media" that an impromptu music video being shot at the park.
Officers were on their way there to break up the gathering when they learned of the shooting.
"They were a block away when they heard gunshots and were flagged down," Harrison said.
Authorities are searching the neighborhood for surveillance videos in hopes of identifying the
shooting suspects, according to WWL-TV.
"At the end of the day it's really hard to police against a bunch of guys who decide to pull out guns and settle disputes with 300 people between them," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu told the station.
Harrison and Landrieu said the police department will need the help of people who attended the party to identify the suspects.
"This is a classic case where we need citizen help," Harrison said. "People know who did this. We need them to come forward and tell us so we can bring these people to justice."