of new orleans mardi gras shooting leaves six injured

New Orleans Mardi Gras Shooting Leaves Six Injured: A Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans erupted into chaos on Fat Tuesday when gunshots struck six people. An infant was among the victims in Mardi Gras shooting. Two suspects were in custody and the victims were recovering.

Today is Fat Tuesday, a day known for gluttony as it marks the end of the Mardi Gras celebration before the Lenten season begins. Police have recovered the weapon used in the Mardi Gras shooting and have arrested two suspects. Bob Young, New Orleans police spokesman, says the 'Rex' parade had just passed by a group of revelers when shots were heard around 1:40pm CST. Shots erupted during a truck float parade that followed. One victim was shot in the stomach and is in serious condition according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper. The other victims are in stable condition including a 1-year-old baby boy with a graze wound in the back; a 17-year-old girl was shot in the thigh, while a 50-year-old woman was shot in the elbow and a 30-year-old man suffered a graze wound to the thigh. Each of the victims appeared to be innocent bystanders according to Deputy Chief of police Kirk Bouyelas.

People come to the aid of an unidentified victim at the scene where at least five people were shot and two suspects were taken into custody in a shooting incident along the Mardi Gras parade route in New Orleans. [photo via]

Mardi Gras is New Orleans' pre-Lenten celebration that attempts to rival Brazil's Carnival. Family picnics on the parade route are a common staple, along with plenty of X-rated sights on Bourbon Street. Mardi Gras ends officially Tuesday night and is marked by flashy parades and high spirited celebrants.

Other Links:
- Baby hurt in Mardi Gras shooting in New Orleans
- Baby among victims in Mardi Gras shooting
- Infant, 5 others shot near Mardi Gras parade route
- Infant shot at New Orleans Mardi Gras