The incident, described as a "terror attack" by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, unfolded when the vehicle breached police barricades and plowed into the crowd. The driver then exited the vehicle and opened fire on the crowd and police officers.  

Witnesses described a chaotic scene with panicked revelers fleeing the area as the vehicle barreled through the crowd. Police officers returned fire, and an improvised explosive device (IED) was found at the scene, though its viability is still under investigation.

The incident was declared a mass casualty event, with injured victims transported to multiple hospitals across the city.  

The FBI has taken over the investigation. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described the attack as "deliberate" and emphasized that the driver was "hellbent on creating carnage." (ILKHA)