Two men were arrested after a shooting at a festival celebrating the Vietnamese holiday Tet in New Orleans East on Saturday night, February 1. The incident happened at around 9:25 p.m. in the 14000 block of Dwyer Boulevard.
According to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), an Orleans Parish deputy sheriff was flagged down and found two men with gunshot wounds to their torsos. Emergency medical services arrived quickly and took the victims to the hospital for treatment. However, officials did not release any information about their conditions.
On Sunday, the NOPD announced the arrests of two suspects involved in the shooting. Christopher Nguyen, 25, and Timothy Nguyen, 19, were taken into custody and booked into the Orleans Justice Center jail. They each face two counts of aggravated second-degree battery.
Police reports indicate that the suspects got into a fight with one of the victims during the festival. At some point, Timothy Nguyen pulled out a gun and shot both victims. Authorities have not yet provided further details about what led to the argument or if the suspects and victims knew each other.
The Tet festival was hosted by Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, which has been organizing the annual celebration for over 40 years. After the incident, the church expressed sadness over what had happened. In a statement posted on social media, church officials said they were deeply troubled by the shooting but confirmed that the final day of the festival would still take place as planned on Sunday. They also assured attendees that extra security measures would be in place to ensure everyone’s safety.
While the festival is meant to be a joyful event celebrating Vietnamese culture and the Lunar New Year, this unfortunate incident brought concern to the community. Local authorities continue to investigate the shooting, and more details may emerge in the coming days.
Despite the tragic event, festival organizers and community leaders remain committed to keeping the celebration going in a safe and secure environment. The increased security presence is meant to reassure attendees and prevent any further disturbances.
This incident highlights the importance of safety measures at public events and the need for community awareness to help prevent violent situations. Law enforcement officials encourage anyone with additional information about the shooting to come forward and assist in the investigation.
