A driver accused of shooting at another before leading police on a chase into the downtown New Orleans is now in custody.
According to NOPD Deputy Superintendent Hans Ganthier, the initial crash happened around 8 a.m. Thursday on Shirley Drive at General De Gaulle Drive in Algiers. The victim was trying to get the information from the suspect when the suspect allegedly fired two shots at the victim's car before speeding away.
"He took off and went on the Crescent City Connection, where the victim followed him and was relaying information to the police," Ganthier said in a media briefing outside the World War II Museum. "The state police picked up on the transmissions. They actually responded at Clio and Prytania and got behind the vehicle."
According to Ganthier, the suspect's car, a black SUV, crashed on Calliope at Magazine. The suspect then escaped the vehicle and ran away. The suspect's dash didn't last long.
"State police and our units responded, and he was quickly apprehended on Constance and Calliope," Ganthier said. "They did recover two weapons on scene. The individual was apprehended, but no one was hurt during this incident. So with that, it was really a quick response--especially down here--by the state police (and) by our units, and it's still being investigated as we speak."
Ganthier says he doesn't recommend that anyone do what the victim did to help bring the suspect to justice.
"If you can get their information and relay it to the police, that's fine," Ganthier said. "There was an arrest, obviously, but we don't advise that. For your own safety, just get the license plate or any information--the description of the vehicle--and that's enough. You don't need to chase it, especially with someone armed."