New Orleans attack: Hammond mayor, wife unharmed after truck plows into crowd

CHICAGO - Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said he and his wife are safe following a deadly attack on a crowd of New Year's revelers in New Orleans early Wednesday morning.

The Indiana mayor and his wife, Marissa, were visiting the city for Wednesday night's Sugar Bowl game when a man drove a pickup truck into a large crowd of people celebrating in the famed French Quarter district, McDermott said in a post on Facebook.

"Just to let everybody know that Marissa and I are visiting New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl game, and that there was a tragic truck attack on a large crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street," the post from McDermott said.

McDermott later told Fox 32 News in a telephone interview that he and his wife were asleep in their hotel room one block from Bourbon Street at the time of the incident.

"I woke up in the middle of the night to a lot of sirens, but we're right off Bourbon Street so I didn't think much of it to be honest with you. This morning you wake up to a bunch of text messages and family and friends that are worried about Marissa and my safety."

At least 10 people were killed, and 35 others were injured in the attack, New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said during a press conference. Kirkpatrick said the incident appeared to be "very intentional behavior," and that the suspect was "trying to run over as many people as he could."

The suspect was later killed during a shootout with responding officers. His identity has not yet been released.

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McDermott said the French Quarter district, known for its nightlife, was especially busy at the time of the attack due to New Year's Eve celebrations and the College Football Playoff game between Notre Dame and Georgia at the Superdome on Wednesday night.

"It was packed last night on Bourbon Street. And I walked by the barricades on Canal and Bourbon and they were down. I got a hot dog there. And right where I got a hot dog was annihilated by that truck. So it went in Bourbon Street, the barricades were up, but Canal and Bourbon, the barricades were down and that's how the truck got in," McDermott told Fox 32.

In McDermott's social media post, the mayor sent his condolences to those impacted by the attack.

"This heartbreaking situation reminds us to cherish every moment and never take life for granted," McDermott said. "Many people were killed or injured last night, and our thoughts are with their loved ones."

While authorities have stated the Sugar Bowl would go on as scheduled, McDermott said he expected security to be much tighter following the attack.

"I'm anticipating a change in security because of what happened. And we were worried whether or not the game was going to happen. And from what I understand, the Sugar Bowl themselves tweeted condolences to the victims, they didn't say anything about a change in game schedule. But I do imagine security's going to be tight," McDermott said.

The University of Notre Dame released a statement on social media platform X saying they are working with law enforcement to determine the full scope of the attack, and asked fans to pray for those who were impacted.

"We ask our fans to join us in prayer for those injured and lost in this senseless act of violence," the statement said. "Those staying at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel are welcome to join us for the previously scheduled Mass there at 11 a.m. Otherwise, we ask that you join us in prayer from wherever you are.

The University of Georgia also issued a statement saying it was "horrified and saddened by the senseless act of violence."

"University personnel are working to determine if any UGA students, faculty, staff, alumni or fans were among the victims," the school said. "We offer our deepest condolences to all the victims and their families, and we stand in solidarity with the New Orleans community."