Brothers charged in New Orleans shooting
2013-05-16 22:03
Chicago - Two brothers, who belong to a New Orleans gang,
were charged with opening fire at a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans where 20
people were shot, police said on Thursday.
Sunday's shooting at a crowded parade filled with
families shocked the Big Easy, which is struggling to overcome what Mayor Mitch
Landrieu described as "the relentless drumbeat of violence" on its
streets.
Most of the victims escaped with non-life threatening
injuries after they were grazed by the bullets sprayed into the crowd, but two
10-year-old children were among those shot.
"We are going to do what we have to do to protect
our culture and our great city," Landrieu vowed at a press conference.
"We will not bow down."
Akein Scott, 19, was booked into custody at about 03:00
on Thursday on 20 counts of attempted murder.
His brother Shawn Scott, 24, was arrested later on Thursday
on the same charges, police said.
Other arrests
Four other people were charged with obstruction of
justice and "accessory after the fact" for helping Akein Scott hide
from police even though they knew he was the subject of a massive manhunt.
"We believe Shaun and his brother Akein are
associated with the gang Frenchman-Derbigny Boys," New Orleans police
chief Ronal Serpas said.
"Shawn has a lengthy record and has demonstrated his
contempt for the people of New Orleans," he added.
Shawn Scott was on probation after serving time on drug
charges and warrants were already out for his arrest on unrelated weapons and
drug charges.
Police found cocaine and heroin when they arrested him.
Akein Scott was out of jail on a $15 000 bail at the time
of the shooting after pleading not guilty to charges of illegally carrying a
weapon last month.
He had also been charged with resisting arrest and heroin
possession, according to the Orleans parish sheriff's department.
He had previously been arrested last year for possession
of a stolen weapon, but the charges appear to have been dropped.