A man driving a white pickup truck barreled into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter at high speed early Wednesday morning, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens more in what the mayor described as a “terrorist attack.”

According to CBS News, the driver exited the vehicle after striking people celebrating New Year’s Day near the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Street around 3:15 a.m. and began firing a weapon. Law enforcement officers reportedly returned fire, resulting in an exchange that left two officers injured; both are in stable condition.

The suspect was killed during the shootout. The FBI has taken over the investigation.

Mayor Cantrell calling this a terrorist attack. Happened at 3:15 am New Years Day. Man driving pickup at a very fast pace intentionally to hit as many people as he could @FOX8NOLA

— Meg Gatto (@MegGattoFOX8) January 1, 2025

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the situation a “terrorist attack” while addressing the media, however, moments later, an FBI spokesperson said it was “not a terrorist event.” Authorities said the situation appeared to be intentional, the Daily Wire reported.

“He was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage he did,” said New Orleans Police Department Chief Anne Kirkpatrick. She added that the driver was “trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”

FBI saying this is not yet a terrorist attack, still being investigated. Truck driver had explosive devices on him @FOX8NOLA

— Meg Gatto (@MegGattoFOX8) January 1, 2025

#BREAKING
NEW YEAR’S TRAGEDY ON BOURBON ST:

🔴Driver drove into the crowd along the street and gun fire erupted around 3 a.m.
🔴 10 people are dead, 35 are injured
🔴 Two officers were shot
🔴 City officials labeling this as a terrorist attack@FOX8NOLA pic.twitter.com/rPxw2QU3Yx

— Andrés Fuentes (@news_fuentes) January 1, 2025

The FBI confirmed that the suspect in the New Year’s Day massacre on Bourbon Street in New Orleans is deceased after engaging with police officers. 

The bureau also said the incident, in which 10 people were killed and 30 injured after the suspect plowed a pickup truck into a crowded street, is being investigated as an act of terrorism.

“This morning, an individual drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing a number of people and injuring dozens of others,” the FBI said in a statement Wednesday morning.

“The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now deceased. The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism,” the statement added, via Fox News.