January 19, 2026
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Tourists Wounded, Teen Killed in Shooting at New Orleans Landmark Restaurant

New Orleans police say a 19-year-old man was shot and killed and three female tourists were wounded Friday night when gunfire followed the teen into the foyer of Dooky Chase's Restaurant, a famed Creole and civil-rights landmark in the city. Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the 19-year-old, identified by local TV as Kareem Harris, was chased down the street just after 8 p.m. and fired upon before he tried to escape by running into the crowded restaurant, where bullets struck three women waiting for a table β€” two friends visiting from Los Angeles and a third visitor from Florida. One Los Angeles tourist was shot about five times and has undergone several surgeries, her friend also required surgery and is in stable condition, and the Florida tourist was treated and released. Police believe a single gunman carried out what appears to have been a retaliatory shooting targeting Harris, though others may have been involved, and the shooter remains at large. The Chase family called the incident a "random and tragic" attack and expressed gratitude for support as the landmark, which has hosted presidents and civil-rights leaders, grapples with the fallout from the latest episode of gun violence in a major American tourist hub.

Gun Violence and Public Safety New Orleans Crime

πŸ“Œ Key Facts

  • Shooting occurred just after 8 p.m. Friday at Dooky Chase's Restaurant in New Orleans
  • Nineteen-year-old Kareem Harris was killed after being chased and shot at; he ran into the restaurant foyer
  • Three women tourists β€” two from Los Angeles and one from Florida β€” were wounded while waiting for a table; one was shot about five times and has had multiple surgeries
  • Police believe there was one shooter and describe the attack as appearing to be a retaliatory shooting; no arrests yet
  • Dooky Chase's, a historic Creole restaurant and civil-rights meeting place, was crowded at the time

πŸ“Š Relevant Data

In New Orleans, Black individuals constitute approximately 55.22% of the population, but account for at least 80% to 92% of murder victims, with the majority being Black males.

Crime analysts say Black people make up the majority of murder victims in NOLA; leaders chime in β€” WDSU

New Orleans recorded 121 homicides in 2025, a 55% reduction from 266 in 2022, marking the lowest homicide rate in 50 years.

New Orleans police report significant drop in violent crime, including 121 murders in 2025 β€” FOX 8 WVUE

The Treme neighborhood in New Orleans, where Dooky Chase's Restaurant is located, has a population that is approximately 42.4% to 62% Black, reflecting its historical significance as a center for free people of color.

TremΓ© Neighborhood β€” Global Green

πŸ“° Source Timeline (1)

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