50th Anniversary of HoJo Shootings (1 Viewer)

[Yatman]

second "battle of new orleans" ended when mark essex was finally dispatched

Shortly before 9 p.m., after almost seven hours crouched in the cubicle, Essex suddenly charged into the open with his rifle at waist height and his right fist aloft, shouting "Come and get me!" before being almost immediately shot by police sharpshooters positioned on the roofs of adjacent buildings. The military helicopter, which had just approached to begin a further strafe operation, also fired scores of rounds into Essex's body. The momentum of the bullets propelled his vertical body several feet before Essex fell on his back approximately twenty feet from the cubicle, having failed to kill or wound any further officers in this final act. The barrage of gunfire would continue for almost four minutes. An autopsy later revealed Essex had received more than 200 gunshot wounds.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

It is a fascinating rabbit hole to go down if anyone isnt familiar wiht it .

To this day i never walk by Duncan Plaza without thinking of that event .

 

[GrandAdmiral]

I never knew about this until I read about it working on a project for my high school Louisiana history class.

 

[longtime lurker]

Thanks for sharing. I had no idea this went down.

 

[Buickman]

Wow, I was in the 2nd grade and remember watching this unfold on Channel 4. But I never knew the details until reading this.

 

[El Caliente]

My dad often tells us of this event. It was a Sunday, and he was eating at Panchos on Gravier St. when it happened.

Does anyone recall what block of Gravier Panchos was on (because he can’t ), because he swore he saw cop cars flying past, and heard the chopper overhead, but Gravier (in my mind) is just a thin street lined with a bunch of 9 story buildings.

 

[Yatman]

ate at that pancho's frequently while in school

luckily, he wasn't in any danger there



other than from the food, yum

 

[Doug B]

Does anyone recall what block of Gravier Panchos was on (because he can’t ), because he swore he saw cop cars flying past, and heard the chopper overhead, but Gravier (in my mind) is just a thin street lined with a bunch of 9 story buildings.

It was the 900 block of Gravier between Baronne and O'Keefe. Uptown (south) side of the street.

Some more photos from circa 1977.

On that block today is a parking garage, a little place called Two Chicks Cafe (not the Pancho's space, too small), and what used to be an O'Henry's but is now empty.

 

[Bill]

I remember the incident well. My uncle served as an NOPD officer and gave us his personal account of the things that happened during that standoff.

As a 12 year old kid I was glued to every report coming over the radio and TV.

The Howard Johnson sniper and the Rault Center fire were two tragic events in the city that have stayed with me though the years.

 

[Yatman]

third disaster epic from childhood is the fiery sinking of the union faith

now also more than 50 years behind us