A 25-year-old man went on "a violent crime spree" on Sunday afternoon, sending New Orleans police to multiple crime scenes across the city and ultimately shooting five people, including a police officer, and injuring three others after a car chase ended in a Mid-City crash, NOPD said.
NOPD Chief Michael Harrison said 25-year-old Charles Williams' violent spree began at about 4:25 p.m. in the 1900 block of St. Roch Avenue. There, Harrison said, Williams "fired multiple rounds" at people gathered on the porch of a home in that block, wounding three of them.
Then, Williams went to the 1400 block of N. Derbigny Street, Harrison said, where he shot a victim in the face. "That person is in surgery as we speak," Harrison said about 7:30 p.m.
From there, Williams went to the 1700 block of Desire Parkway, where he stole a car in an armed carjacking, before returning to the original scene on St. Roch Avenue. There, while NOPD officers were investigating, Williams opened fire, hitting one police officer, who suffered a "minor graze wound" to the chest, Harrison said. The officer, who was not identified, was being treated for the wound Sunday evening and is "in good condition," the chief said.
After that shooting, Harrison said, NOPD officers gave chase to Williams in the stolen car, following him through the city before Williams crashed a red Toyota Corolla on North Carrollton Avenue near Flowerdale Court. The crash damaged another vehicle, which was occupied by three people at the time.
Williams "exited his vehicle with his firearm," Harrison said, but dropped the gun when officers confronted him. He was taken into custody at the scene, NOLA.com reports.
