Group of four victims robbed at gunpoint on Freret, police say

A group of four people was robbed at gunpoint on Freret Street overnight, New Orleans police said Friday morning. The victims — three men and a woman, ranging in age from 20 to 28 — were near Freret and Joseph streets around 12:45 a.m. Friday, April 6, when a dark-colored, four-door vehicle approached, according to the initial NOPD report. Two armed males got out of the car and demanded the victim’s belongings, then drove away, the report states. Further details were not immediately available. Anyone with information is urged to call the NOPD Second District station at 658-6020 to speak to a detective, or CrimeStoppers at 822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward.

Suspect arrested in robbery of TJ Maxx on South Claiborne

A man who filled a shopping cart with shoes at TJ Maxx on South Claiborne Avenue and then took it from the store while brandishing a handgun at employees who attempted to stop him was arrested the following day, New Orleans police said. Shortly before noon on Friday, a man walked into TJ Maxx at 2900 South Claiborne Avenue, filled a shopping cart with shoes, then left through the rear emergency exit, according to a NOPD report. When employees confronted him to pay for the items, the man drew a handgun and pointed it at them and continued out, the report states. Around 10 a.m. Sunday, officers with the NOPD Sixth District saw a man matching the robbery suspect’s description and tried to stop him, but he began running away, according to the reports. He threw a handgun away in the 2100 block of South Claiborne, but police closed down the streets around the block and were able to find him and the gun, the report states.

L’Ecole Bilingue school to celebrate Fete Francaise on Saturday

L’Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orleans will host their annual festival fundraiser, la Fête Française, at the campus on General Pershing Street on Saturday. Festival entry is free and runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at the school’s campus at 821 General Pershing Street. Music performances include Sarah Quintana, Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers, Thibault, and Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots. Fete Francaise 2018 from robyn cook on Vimeo.

Man shot on South Liberty Street, police say

A man was injured in a shooting late Wednesday morning on South Liberty Street, New Orleans police said. The victim, a man in his 30s, was near South Liberty and Toledano shortly after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, when he heard a gunshot, according to the initial NOPD report. He realized he had been shot in the leg, so he walked home and was taken from there to the hospital by ambulance, the report states. Further details were not immediately available. Anyone with information is urged to call the NOPD Sixth District station at 658-6060 to speak to a detective, or CrimeStoppers at 822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward.

Bacchus 2018 celebrates a big anniversary (Photos)

The Krewe of Bacchus celebrated a major anniversary this year. They made 50, their golden anniversary. With that in mind, most of this year’s floats were gold-themed. It’s “Gold Record” float paid tribute to musicians like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Kiss and more who have been awarded a golden record for their achievements. It’s “Goldfinger” float paid tribute to the James Bond film by the same name.

Iris, Tucks to roll early Saturday because of rain threat

The krewes of Iris and Tucks will roll on the Uptown route an hour early on Saturday morning amid the threat of more rainy weather, New Orleans police said Friday morning. Iris will start at 10 a.m., and Tucks will start at 11 a.m., according to a weather update from NOPD officials. In Mid-City, Endymion is tentatively still scheduled to maintain its current start time of 4:15 p.m.

Thunderstorms are currently expected both Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service New Orleans office. “A few storms could become strong to severe on Saturday, with the main threat being damaging wind gusts,” the National Weather Service forecasters wrote in a 10:30 a.m. update Friday. “Some storms may also result in locally heavy rainfall leading to ponding of water in low lying areas and areas of poor drainage.”

Shooting of two men reported on South Claiborne Avenue, police say

Police are investigating the shooting of two men on South Claiborne Avenue late Wednesday morning, New Orleans police said. The shooting was reported around 11 a.m. on South Claiborne near Toledano Avenue, said NOPD Officer Juan Barnes. One of the men was shot in the leg, and the other suffered a graze wound to the body, Barnes said. The crime scene remains under investigation and further details were not immediately available. Anyone with information is urged to call the NOPD Sixth District station at 658-6060 to speak to a detective, or CrimeStoppers at 822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward.

City officials salute the passing of Central City NOPD volunteer

After Lionel Coleman, a Central City neighborhood activist who served on the NOPD Police Community Advisory Board, recently passed away, city officials released a tribute to him Tuesday morning. Coleman will be remembered at a service Friday at New Hope Baptist Church. To read the tribute to him from Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement, see below:

Friends and family will gather on Friday, February 2, 2018 at New Hope Baptist Church for the Memorial Service to commemorate the life of Mr. Lionel Coleman, a longtime civic leader and advocate for the Central City community. Mr. Coleman’s community involvement and commitment spans over 20 years. He fervently advocated for improved quality of life on the local and state level.

Woman carjacked from driveway on Milan Street, police say

A woman who had parked in the driveway of a Milan Street home Thursday evening was carjacked by two young assailants, New Orleans police said. The victim, a woman in her 30s, had just parked her car in the 2500 block of Milan Street (just off Freret Street) around 7:40 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, when two unknown teenage boys walked up to her driver’s side window, according to the initial NOPD report. They “demanded her keys and told her to leave,” the report states, and then drove off in her car toward South Claiborne Avenue. Further details were not immediately available.