What began as a celebration ended in tragedy after an elderly woman was fatally shot in a shooting in a parking lot at Xavier University in New Orleans, following a graduation ceremony at Morris Jeff High School, local authorities reported.
New Orleans Police Department Assistant Superintendent Christopher Goodly reported that he could not confirm if the victim was the grandmother of a graduate student. It also did not reveal the specific age or identity of the deceased woman, reported WAFB 9.
Two men, who have also not been identified by the authorities, presented injuries to the leg and shoulder respectively, but did not are considered life-threatening, Goodly said.
Meanwhile, at least three people have been detained for questioning, and no arrests have been made as of late afternoon, Goodly added.
The tragic shooting was described by Goodly as a “senseless act of violence” that began with an argument between two women, whose ages have not been revealed. The dispute escalated to the point that they drew weapons and began shooting. The elderly woman struck is believed to have been an innocent bystander.
The shooting took place in a parking lot outside the Convocation Center, which is used as the site of Morris Jeff High School graduation ceremonies each spring. Witnesses told Fox 8 that they heard between 5 and 12 shots.
Goodly stressed that investigators are working to determine how many people were shot, as well as their identities, and whether they were students, friends or relatives of the graduates.
The elderly woman murdered this Tuesday is at least the victim 121 of homicide in New Orleans this year, figures that in just five months of 2022 exceeded the 16 registered fatalities in all 2019.