New Orleans Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed Wednesday morning that the Sugar Bowl will take place as scheduled at the Superdome, despite a deadly incident in the city’s French Quarter hours earlier. A driver in a pickup truck plowed through Bourbon Street crowds, killing 10 and injuring at least 35.
The attack, described as deliberate, occurred at approximately 3:15 a.m. CT in the heart of New Orleans’ iconic French Quarter, a hub for New Year’s Eve celebrations and Sugar Bowl festivities. Crowds had swelled in anticipation of Wednesday night’s College Football Playoff matchup between Georgia and Notre Dame.
“This individual was hell-bent on creating carnage,” said Kirkpatrick. “It was very intentional behavior aimed at causing as much harm as possible.”
Law enforcement officials stated that the male driver was shot and killed by police after exiting his vehicle. He was reportedly armed with an assault rifle and had fired shots while driving through the crowd.
The FBI is leading the investigation, treating the incident as an act of terrorism. Alethea Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field office, confirmed that at least one suspected improvised explosive device (IED) was discovered at the scene.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell denounced the incident as a “terrorist attack” during a press conference.
The Sugar Bowl Committee expressed their condolences. “We are devastated by the events of this morning,” said CEO Jeff Hundley. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are working closely with authorities at all levels to ensure safety and will provide updates as needed.”
NOLA Ready, the city’s emergency preparedness agency, reported that victims were transported to five local hospitals. Among the injured are two police officers who were shot during the altercation with the driver. Both are in stable condition.
Despite the tragedy, Kirkpatrick assured the public that robust security measures would be in place to safeguard Sugar Bowl attendees and maintain order during the game.
