The NOPD is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Tuesday on Xavier University campus during a graduation ceremony for a local high school.
Police say that one person, a woman, has died and three were injured by gunfire in that shooting which happened at around 11:45 a.m.
Xavier Police and officers were working a security detail and responded to a disturbance and call of shots fired in the parking lot of the Xavier University Convocation Center, where a high school graduation had concluded.
The shooting allegedly took place after graduation ceremonies for Morris Jeff Community School.
Upon arrival, officers located three gunshot wound victims – two men and one woman. All victims were transported via EMS to a local hospital, where the woman was pronounced dead.
New Orleans detectives are in the process of gathering information to identify the person(s) responsible for this offense and a motive. Multiple subjects were detained at the scene for questioning.
No arrests have been made.
The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office will officially identify the victim who was killed, upon completion of an autopsy and notification of family. Investigation into this incident is active and ongoing.
Gov. Edwards provided a statement on the shooting Tuesday.
"For the second time this graduation season in Louisiana, gun violence has marred what should be an exciting day of celebration for high school graduates, their families and teachers. I hope all Louisianans will join me in prayer for the victims of these pointless acts of violence.
"Those who perpetuate these senseless acts of violence will be brought to justice. We must do more to keep our communities safe, and this means we must do more to ensure that those who pose an unacceptable risk of harm to others aren’t able to acquire or keep firearms.
"In light of recent gun violence in Buffalo and Uvalde, gun safety discussions and action involving expanded background checks and red flag laws are very much in order.”
On May 19, a shooting on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University injured four people outside of the Hammond High Magnet graduation.
New Orleans Public School Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr released a statement on the shooting.
“I am outraged and saddened by the callousness shown today outside Xavier University. The graduating seniors of Morris Jeff were there to share in their collective achievements and bask in the brightness of their futures – only to have their optimism ripped apart by gun violence. This has got to stop. We must come together as a community, as a country, and address the damage caused by access to guns and to get to the root of the anger and despair that compels individuals to even think of harming others. All our children have a right to be safe and we must do all we can in our power to protect that right. My heart breaks for the families of the victims, and I implore us all to rally around them in their time of need," NOLA-PS Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. said.
Head of Morris Jeff High Schools also released a statement on the shooting.
“This is a horrific tragedy on what should be a day of celebration for our seniors, but Morris Jeff is a strong school community and we will unite to help each other heal,” said Morris Jeff Head of School Patricia Perkins. “Every day, we teach our children to solve their differences with their words and to be compassionate toward each other. Our graduates will make a difference in this world because they learn to see each other as equal human beings. This resolve is only stronger after today’s violence.”
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