New Orleans City Councilmember Jean-Paul Morrell revealed on Wednesday that efforts were underway to repair barriers on Bourbon Street, following a disturbing incident where a suspect drove over the sidewalk to avoid the specific area where repairs were taking place.
Morrell explained that the barriers were in the process of being repaired and replaced, but the suspect managed to bypass them by driving on the sidewalk and evading the section where police vehicles and repair barriers were stationed.
He emphasized that even if the bollard barriers had been in place, the suspect's maneuver of riding on the sidewalk would have rendered them ineffective in this particular situation.
Additionally, Morrell disclosed that the suspect had been staying in an Airbnb before carrying out the attack, during which a pickup truck was driven into a crowd amidst New Year's celebrations on Bourbon Street.
According to Morrell, the vehicle used in the attack had been rented from a non-traditional vehicle rental site. The individual responsible for the incident had reportedly lodged at an Airbnb before executing the attack.
