NOPD Interim Chief Superintendent Michelle Woodfork took to the microphone today to assuage fears about potential violence from last night spilling over into the Jazz Fest or across the city.
The Chief was certain in her delivery about the mid-evening shooting at Mandina’s Restaurant on Canal Street.
The 92-year-old staple was the scene of an ambush killing of a 22-year-old employee, identified by his father as Hilbert Walker III. A 54-year-old female patron of the restaurant was also hit by gunfire.
“Since the incident unfortunately occurred on the opening day of Jazz Fest at this popular well-known restaurant in the city,” Woodfork said. “We wanted to ensure the public and our tourists, that this was an isolated incident that did not occur in the vicinity of the festival.”
A witness told WWL-TV they saw two men in car parked near the restaurant and that they got out of the car and began shooting at a person walking in front of the establishment.
Restaurant owner Cindy Mandina told the TV station "Over 90 years of service on Canal Street, we've never had such a sad, senseless event take place."
During her announcement to the media, Chief Woodfork an armed security guard at the restaurant responded to the incident.
“There was an armed security guard, as there always is at Mandina’s and he did return fire at these individuals who got out [of the car and opened fire].”
