The University of Georgia community is waiting to hear from students and faculty who were in New Orleans during a deadly incident on Bourbon Street this morning.
Early on New Year’s Day, a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 10 people and injuring dozens more. The driver then fired shots at police officers before being fatally shot. Two officers were also injured and remain in stable condition.
What’s Happening: UGA officials say they are working to determine if any of their students, faculty, staff, alumni, or fans were involved. Many members of the UGA community were in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl game against Notre Dame, scheduled for later today at the Caesars Superdome.
Despite the tragedy, the game is set to proceed as planned.
An Act of Terror?: Authorities say the suspect, whose identity has not been released, was focused on causing harm. The FBI is now investigating the case as a possible act of terrorism.
Why It Matters: The attack has shaken both the New Orleans community and visiting fans, including many from Georgia. With UGA’s presence in the city for the Sugar Bowl, the incident has a direct impact on the university. School officials have expressed condolences to the victims and their families while pledging support for those affected.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
