A New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration took a violent turn this week when a mass stabbing left five people injured, The New York Post reports.
With this year's Mardi Gras celebrations taking place on March 1 in New Orleans, officials have now revealed that a fight broke out around 7:30AM on Tuesday at a popular uptown college bar called The Boot.
Reports suggest that tempers first became frayed when someone was denied entry to the bar. Per a police report, they then "became violent" with guards and started a fight outside the venue.
Tulane police were called to the scene, where they broke up the struggle - but not before five people were injured.
The victims of the stabbing include at least one male Loyola University student, who was working at The Boot when the fight broke out. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. WWL-TV adds that the condition of four of the victims was not released by authorities.
Tulane police simply said that "multiple subjects" had sustained "various cutting related injuries" per Fox 8 Live.
Meanwhile, one male suspect has been taken into custody - but police are yet to release his name or identity.
After the stabbing, alerts went out warning students at Loyola University and Tulane University to avoid the area around The Boot.
In an email to the Loyola community, Tetlow said: "The news of this violence is even more shocking on a day of such joy and community here in New Orleans.
"Hold your loved ones close as you celebrate Mardi Gras today, watch out for each other, and be sure to appreciate the good times for the gift that they are."
This week saw the Mardi Gras festival return in full swing for the first time since the pandemic struck in 2020.
The carnival - which is traditionally held on the last day before lent - included back-to-back parades across New Orleans and marches through the French Quarter.
Fox 6 News reports that face masks were only required to be worn in indoor public spaces, meaning the festivities were back on track after being canceled due to social distancing measures last year.
Additionally, WGNO-TV adds that both The New Orleans Police Department and Tulane University Police have partnered up to investigate the incident.
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