‘The story of our country currently’: New Orleans deaths cast shadow on scene of Rose Parade ...Middle East

Echoes from the tragic news from New Orleans on Wednesday morning, Jan. 1, could be felt at the Rose Parade.

Officials held a moment of silence for victims of the tragedy before the parade began.

At least 10 people were killed and 30 were hurt by a driver described by police as “hell-bent on carnage” in a busy tourist area near Bourbon Street early Wednesday.

Paradegoers and local officials alike said they were aware of the news and sent their condolences to representatives from Louisiana participating in the parade. The state had a strong contingent in the parade, including a parade and the march’s mid-event musical performance.

For the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the organization’s 2025 float, symbolizing the food, music and cheer of a “Louisiana Saturday night,” marked the group’s fourth year in the parade.

Some visitors lined up along the Rose Parade route said they were more alert on the scene, but that they hadn’t considered not attending.

“It was a concern, yes. But it is not really a worry,” said Danny Ruiz, a Pasadena resident sitting in a grandstand. “You are just more alert being around your surroundings,” Ruiz said.

When he came to the Rose Parade, however, he said: “It (the New Orleans tragedy) was always in the back of my mind.”

“The Tournament of Roses and the City of Pasadena extend our deepest sympathies to the people of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans following this morning’s tragic events,” said a statement from the Tournament of Roses and the City of Pasadena. “We stand in solidarity with the entire state during this difficult time.”

A suspect who drove a vehicle at high speed into a crowd of revelers was killed after a firefight with police, law enforcement officials told the Associated Press. Ten people were killed and 30 were injured in New Orleans’ bustling French Quarter district at 3:15 a.m.

Rose Parade officials sought to assure visitors that security was tight at the event, on the heels of the Louisiana attack.

“The City of Pasadena undergoes months of preparations leading up to the parade and game in coordination with our federal, state, county and local partners,” the statement said. “We continually train throughout the year with our Tournament of Roses and Rose Bowl Stadium partners for various scenarios.”

“As so many here in Los Angeles wake up to begin the new year, they will be greeted by the devastating news of terror and violence in New Orleans,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement on X Wednesday morning.

“The Los Angeles Police Department is coordinating with federal partners to keep Angelenos safe. Local and regional law enforcement will remain vigilant at events in the L.A. region including the Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl Game and other gatherings,” Bass added.

“Our city’s thoughts are with the families and communities impacted by this morning’s horrific incident.”

News of the incident spread through the crowd at the Rose Parade, with many learning of the tragedy from news reporters and fellow parade-goers.

“This is the story of our country currently,” said Jose Refugio Quiroz, a photo lab technician from Pasadena City College attending the parade. ” I mean, how many more can we take?”

“I’m always thinking about what could possibly happen, unfortunately, this is what I’m accustomed now,” said the 31-year-old, who was born and raised in Pasadena. “And I didn’t even grow up in the generation of school shootings.”

Organizers worked to assure parade-goers that security for the event was at its usual high levels.

Officials pointed out that the Rose Parade route has a “a hard shutdown” to vehicles along the 5 1/2-mile route, robust vehicle barriers at each intersection, and more than 1,000 law enforcement personnel working the parade and the Rose Bowl Game was scheduled later Wednesday.

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Staff writers Steve Scauzillo and Teresa Liu contributed to this report.

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