Wild, wild weekend

Black gangs get into it: The tranquility of a Sunday morning was broken when 2 groups of black guys got into an argument on Iberville Street near Burgundy Street shortly before 5 a.m. that turned into a gun battle.

One guy pulled a pistol and fired it 6 to 8 times, striking a 23-year-old man 3 times, twice in the torso and once in the left leg.

Employees of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at that location were among the first on the scene and reported the victim appeared to be in critical condition when he was taken away by ambulance. He underwent surgery at University Hospital and was last reported in stable condition.

Police are labeling it an attempted murder and are looking for a black male in his early 20's, 5'11" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with a slim build and brown complexion, wearing a black shirt, blue pants, and a black fitted hat (what the hell's that?)

One arrest too--with 16 charges: A white man standing in front of the Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel, 817 Common St. in the CBD, Sunday night (9.28.08) at 11 p.m. was accosted by 4 black thugs. He was struck by one of them and then was relieved of his money clip from his pants pocket. The robbers fled toward S. Rampart Street.

A short time later, police caught up with one of the thugs who was positively identified as the robber. It must have been some kind of apprehension: When it was all done, the NOPD had 16 charges against Joseph M. Lawrence, 21, 5'11" tall, weighing 210 pounds.

He was charged with simple robbery, possession with intent to distribute Ecstasy, possession of a firearm while in possession of controlled dangerous substances, flight from an officer and resisting arrest, plus a host of traffic violations too numerous for anyone but a police officer to tabulate. He's being held on $34,000 bond in OPP.

What's with the CBD?: Earlier that same day, just down the street in the 700 block of Common Street, an Asian man was walking about 5 a.m. when he was approached from behind by a nondescript male and felt something pushed into his back. The robber demanded money and the victim complied. The victim could give no description of the robber.

Then in the afternoon, at about 2:26 p.m., a white woman, who had just crossed the intersection of Girod and Magazine streets, had her purse snatched by a black man she described as 35 to 40 years old, 6' tall, weighing 320 pounds, wearing a black shirt and black running pants. He fled up Magazine toward Julia Street.

With friends like that..: A white woman walking on Dauphine Street about 5 a.m. on Saturday (9.27.08) was approached by a black dude she knew as "David" who offered to walk her over to Bourbon Street.

But after a walking for a few minutes, he punched her in the face and took 2 bracelets from her. She flagged down a passing motorist, who took her to the 8th District station at Royal and Conti streets.

She was unable to tell the officers the exact location where she'd been robbed, but described "David" as 25 to 30 years old, 5'10" tall, weighing 190 pounds, wearing a white tuxedo shirt and black pants.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com.

Thom Kahler