“People have to re-engage society, be civic minded, get people back and active with their neighbors, their friends, their families, but with their own government,” said Thomas Eckert, President of the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization.
He joined WWL’s Newell Normand this week in the wake of a tragic shooting that claimed the life of a 22-year-old restaurant worker and injured another Friday night at Mandina’s, a landmark, 92-year-old restaurant in New Orleans.
“We all have the right to participate in our government,” said Eckert. “We should definitely take advantage of it. And getting people to be civically minded and... to be involved again is the biggest issue we have.”
Previously, WWL reported that 22-year-old Hilbert Walker III was killed in the “ambush” shooting Friday night. A 54-year-old woman dining at Mandina’s was also hit by gunfire.
Eckert said he was at the well-known eatery shortly before two men in a car parked near the restaurant got out of the car and began shooting at a person walking in front of the establishment per, the WWL report.
“I myself was at that restaurant minutes before it happened,” he said. “It was a beautiful Friday night and walking up Canal Street, going home. We were there.”
According to Eckert, a crime trend is putting everyone in the city on edge. Listen to his full conversation with Normand here.
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