Gunfire erupted at a small-town Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana on Saturday, leaving six people wounded — including a 6-year-old child now in critical condition — and sending paradegoers scrambling for safety.
The shooting happened around 12:20 p.m. outside the East Feliciana Parish Courthouse in Clinton, just as the town kicked off its 21st annual Mardi Gras in the Country parade, according to local reports.
Officials confirmed that six people were shot. No fatalities have been reported.
The East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office said the parade was immediately shut down as law enforcement flooded the area. Multiple agencies responded, including Louisiana State Police, and AirMed was dispatched to assist the injured.
Authorities said several suspects were taken into custody, though reports varied on the exact number. Police are also searching for a vehicle believed to be connected to the shooting.
Video posted to social media by parade attendee Teresa Wells captured the terrifying moment shots rang out over blaring music. “Oh my God — who just did that?” she can be heard yelling before running for cover as screams echoed in the background, including a crying child.
Another witness told WBRZ that panic spread instantly through the crowd. “Everybody started running,” he said. “This doesn’t happen often in this area.”
The Louisiana State Police have taken over the investigation. Streets surrounding the courthouse were blocked off as parade guests and participants were ushered out of the area.
Clinton, a town of roughly 1,300 residents, is located more than 100 miles north of New Orleans. What was meant to be a family-friendly Mardi Gras celebration quickly turned into a scene of chaos, leaving the tight-knit community shaken as investigators work to determine what led to the shooting.
