A New Orleans resident, Jimmy Cothran, shared his chilling eyewitness account of the tragic events on Bourbon Street during the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The incident occurred when the driver of a pickup truck drove through the popular French Quarter, killing 10 people and injuring around 35 others. The suspect was killed in a shootout with police shortly after the attack... Continue reading here ▶
Jimmy Cothran’s Account
Cothran, who was in a nearby nightclub at the time, told NBC News about the horrifying scene he witnessed. He and his friends noticed “a lot of commotion” at the end of Bourbon Street and decided to go to the nightclub’s balcony to see what was happening.
“We got to the balcony, and it was not what we expected,” Cothran said. “Right in front of us, there was someone’s mother, twisted and obviously deceased. We counted eight bodies in just a few seconds.”
He described the scene as “graphic and devastating,” recalling victims on the ground with severe injuries. One man had tire tracks across his back and stomach, while a young girl who had been dancing earlier was tragically flattened.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “We were stuck inside that club for over an hour and a half with those sights and memories, and no one telling us what was going on.”
Concerns About Barricades
Cothran also expressed concerns about the lack of proper barricades on Bourbon Street that night.
“Usually, Bourbon Street has sturdy barricades in place, so people can walk safely. But this time, they only had flimsy orange and white triangle-style barricades,” he said. “We were surprised they hadn’t set up the usual ones.”
What Happened?
The attack occurred at 3:15 a.m. on January 1, 2025. According to New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, the driver intentionally targeted pedestrians.
“This was very intentional behavior,” Kirkpatrick said. “The perpetrator was trying to run over as many people as possible. It was not a DUI situation; it was more complex and serious.”
Kirkpatrick emphasized the suspect’s deliberate actions, noting that he went around existing barricades to cause maximum harm.
FBI Investigation
The FBI is investigating the attack as a “potential act of terrorism.” However, the suspect’s identity has not yet been released.
Authorities have scheduled a press conference at 11 a.m. local time for further updates.
This devastating incident has left the community in shock, mourning the lives lost and questioning the safety measures in place to prevent such tragedies.
