MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Two teens are behind bars, charged with shooting two, including a 7-year-old girl, in downtown Mobile after a Mardi Gras parade ended.
17-year-olds Kendrick Barnett and Isiah Carl are charged with aggravated assault. Police say they fired multiple shots on Government Street just after Saturday night’s Mardi Gras parade.
The shots rang out just behind multiple packed restaurants and bars on Dauphin Street. People dining in El Papi saw what they described as a shootout, one group on the patio caught the gunshots on camera.
“It was kind of confusing,” said a witness named David. He didn’t want to give his last name.
A night of fun, quickly took a turn for the worse. The sound of Mardi Gras and bands had just ended when gunfire erupted in downtown Mobile.
“Some people that were on the sidewalk here actually were climbing over the wall, trying to get babies and you know everybody out of the way,” said David.
David and his family and friends were on the patio of El Papi celebrating a birthday. They caught the gunshots on a cell phone video.
“Evidently a gentleman ran toward the McDonalds, and started shooting and then turned around and ran back,” said David.
Two people were shot. A 17-year-old male and a 7-year-old girl were caught in the crossfire.
“It was extremely busy because it was the end of the parade, there were people everywhere,” said David.
Several people came back to where they had parked on S. Dearborn, only to find bullet holes in their cars.
“There was a bullet hole in the side of the car,” said Tambi Arnold, who was visiting from Dallas, Texas.
Tambi Arnold and her sister, Cheryl Brown, were visiting Mobile for the first and safest Mardi Gras in the South.
It was their first time in the city, and say this terrified them so much, now they’re not sure if they want to come back.
“I was excited to come here and everything. Just kind of puts a damper on it,” said Brown.
A night meant for memories full of beads and MoonPies, turned into a nightmare not soon forgotten.
The shooters are both charged with aggravated assault. They are expected to make their initial court appearance Monday morning.