Mandina’s Restaurant in New Orleans plans to re-open today as New Orleans Police Officers continue to search for gunmen involved in the murder of one of their servers Friday night. Twenty-three-year-old Hilbert Walker III was killed as he waited on customers outside the popular eatery located on Canal Street. NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork says officers were dispatched to Mandina’s after gunfire erupted.
“And upon their arrival located two adult gunshot victims on the scene.”
The incident occurred on the opening day of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the city’s biggest music festival. Two individuals pulled up to the restaurant in a vehicle and shot Walker while he was serving customers dining outside. Woodfork says NOPD wants to let the public know this was an isolated incident.
“We want our citizens and visitors to know that our officers remain actively patrolling in the district and also there are extra patrols in and around the festival.”
A female tourist from Chicago was inside the restaurant when she was hit by a stray bullet. An armed security guard on site returned fire during the incident.
“This is an ongoing and active investigation.”
Louisiana Restaurant Association is assisting Mandina’s staff by connecting them with trauma counseling services.
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