NEW ORLEANS — Two people were killed and 10 others were injured in two shootings during a popular Second Line parade in New Orleans on Sunday, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

“There are two different scenes here. There are two different shooting events. They are 45 minutes apart,” Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said during a press conference Sunday night.

Despite additional police resources at the event, gunfire erupted around 3:40 p.m. “It appears a car was involved … and shots were fired into the crowd,” Kirkpatrick said.

Nine people were injured and taken to hospitals. “All those victims are alive,” she said.

Police “know that two weapons were used by ballistics that remained at the scene,” Kirkpatrick said. No additional information about the firearms was provided.

“About 45 minutes later, up on the bridge, we had another round of gunfire,” Kirkpatrick said. Three more people were hit by gunfire, according to police.

“Because no cars could have been on that bridge, we know the shooting happened in the crowd,” she said.

Two people were killed in the second shooting, and another “is in extremely critical condition,” Kirkpatrick said.

Police say it’s still unclear if the shootings are related because they happened 45 minutes apart.

“A tragic scene in the neighborhood of St. Roch tonight,” Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry shared on social media. “Sharon and I are praying for everyone involved and are grateful to the first responders on the scene. The violence must end.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill said on social media: “I am saddened to learn of this senseless mass shooting in New Orleans this afternoon. I pray for the victims and their families. This type of wrongdoing will NOT be tolerated. I am hopeful that the culprits will be caught soon and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

“We’re sure somebody probably has video, film, something, and we’d like them to call” New Orleans police or Crime Stoppers, Kirkpatrick urged.

She said police “had a history” with this second line and “added officers to this event knowing it had the potential for violence.”

Second line parades are informal community-led processions, often organized by welfare and leisure clubs or as part of a larger public gathering such as a funeral or celebration. The term “second line” refers to the people who follow the main marching band, the “first line”.

“It’s a wonderful event … and we wanted to keep it a wonderful event,” she said. The event draws thousands of people, according to police.

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