A Mardi Gras celebration in rural Louisiana was brought to an abrupt halt Saturday after gunfire erupted during a community parade that left six injured, including a six-year-old child who remains in critical condition.
Gunfire breaks out at a Mardi Gras community event
The shooting happened shortly after the 21st annual Mardi Gras in the Country parade kicked off in Clinton, a small town of about 1,300 residents near Baton Rouge. The incident took place near a local courthouse, prompting authorities to immediately shut down the event.
According to local reports, at least five people were initially confirmed to have been shot, although later reports indicated that six victims suffered gunshot wounds during the violence.
Child airlifted in critical condition
Among the injured was a six-year-old child who was hit several times in the leg and subsequently airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, where the child is listed in critical condition. The baby’s gender has not been released.
The adult victim was also in critical condition and was airlifted to a hospital in Baton Rouge. Two other victims were taken to a local hospital, where they were described as in critical but stable condition.
Local outlet Unfiltered with Kiran first reported the details of the child’s injuries and the emergency response.
Suspects arrested, vehicle searched
East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Jeff Travis confirmed that the parade was stopped immediately after the shooting broke out. In an interview with WAFB, Travis said four suspects have been taken into custody and that investigators are looking for a vehicle believed to be connected to the shooting.
However, other reports indicated that at least one person was formally in custody as the investigation progressed, with law enforcement continuing to search for additional leads.
The state police took over the investigation
Louisiana State Police took control of the investigation later Saturday, according to WBRZ. The streets surrounding the courthouse were blocked off by state troopers and sheriff’s deputies as forensic and security operations continued.
The East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to The Guardian’s requests for comment.
Mass shootings continue to increase in the US
The shooting contributes to the growing number of gun violence across the United States. At the time of the Clinton incident, there had been at least 24 mass shootings across the country earlier in the year, according to the nonpartisan Gun Violence Archive.
The archive defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more victims are injured or killed.
The persistently high rate of such attacks has renewed calls for stricter gun control legislation. Despite repeated public outcry following incidents of mass violence, the United States Congress has remained divided and substantial legislative reforms have yet to take place.
