What many feared was a copycat terrorist attack reminiscent of what happened in Berlin at Christmas, a man drove his truck into a crowd of people gathered to watch a parade in New Orleans. It turns out that it may have been more of a case of drunk driving instead of an act of terrorism.
A “highly intoxicated” driver plowed into a crowd of parade-watchers in New Orleans on Saturday night, leaving 28 people injured, police said.
Neilson Rizzuto, 25, was identified Sunday as the suspect in the rampage. Online jail records showed Rizzuto was arrested on a number of charges and was being held at the city’s jail.
Police Chief Michael Harrison said in a press conference after the incident that the suspect, who was traveling in the opposite direction of the parade and struck two vehicles, veered off to the other side from the parade, hitting a number of pedestrians before coming to a stop.
Twenty-one people were hospitalized after the crash with five victims in guarded condition. Seven others declined to be hospitalized, city Emergency Services Director, Dr. Jeff Elder said.
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