An explanation for shooting which does make some sense

[Mattie]

I received this e-mail purportedly to come from a police officer in Rockwall Texas fellow officer who knew the family of this young man. True? I can't confirm - but likely? it may be. . .



It is with much trepidation that I make this post, but I feel like I need to let everyone know what is really going on in the CBD of New Orleans. I need to vent also. Christie and I just spoke with our son, who is with the LA National Guard and in NO. They have been taking fire since the day he arrived. Wednesday night, his squad was holding in the NO Convention Center when they were attacked by a group of thugs with AK47s. They had to fire fight their way out and made it to the Superdome. This morning as they made their way from the Superdome to the end of Canal, he spent 6 clips of ammo in this 10 block span. They found the Riverwalk burning. I am not sure why, and neither are these young men, our politicians feel they need to hide the actions of these criminals from us. Our son reports that there are bodies everywhere and most have died from gunfire, not the storm.

Please keep all those who are in NO to rescue those that are in need in your thoughts and prayers. He says that although he was trained to do just exactly what he is doing, he never in his wildest dreams thought he would be doing it in his home of LA. It is all very confusing for these young men.

Thanks!

[stormie_skies]

If thats true, then its awful... It seems to me that the only people left in the city at this point are people afraid to abandon their belongings and the thugs that think they have taken over the city...

I do find one thing odd, though.... if the Riverwalk area was set on fire, why wouldn't the media catch that? Most of the news channels have had people posted in the Canal Street/French Quarter/Riverwalk area for days now, and given that that is a big tourist area, I have a hard time believing that they would see a fire there and NOT mention it....

[x-y-no]

I received this e-mail purportedly to come from a police officer in Rockwall Texas fellow officer who knew the family of this young man. True? I can't confirm - but likely? it may be. . .

I've seen too many alleged eyewitness accounts which turned out false to buy anything without strong corroboration.

Remember the story about the shelter in Pascagoula which supposedly collapsed on hundreds of people? Press has been in that town over a week now. I haven't seen a single news story confirming that claim.

There are some sick people who feel the need to make up stories, why I don't know. That being so, we have to approach every story we see with a big dollop of skepticism.

[Mattie]

That's why I put the disclaimer, but I do know the Rockwall officer and I believe the chain of title so to speak could very well be true - but I can't confirm. Take it for what you will. I don't doubt a whole lot of stories of what goes on down there after speaking with shelter residents and being a former resident. But again - I didn't write/see it - so for what it's worth . . .

[x-y-no]

Yeah ... I'm not saying it isn't true ... unfortunately it does match with some other accounts I've seen of police getting in firefights so long that they actually run out of ammunition, for example.

Doubtless some fraction of those remaining in the city are the worst of the worst. They deserve no mercy, IMHO.

But I'm just heartbroken for the many innocents caught up in the crossfire.