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The family of a man shot on Bourbon Street confirmed he was visiting from Florida

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The family of Christopher Oatts Jr. confirmed to WDSU that Oatts, who lived in Florida, was shot and killed on Bourbon Street Saturday morning. The family said they had come to town for a family outing when Oatts was shot and they are heartbroken that their loved one was taken from them at a time when they were having fun. “We just blocked it out. We didn’t think anything like this would happen,” Oatts’ cousin said. According to New Orleans police, Oatts was shot at about 4:07 a.m. in the 600 block of Bourbon Street. New Orleans police said Oatts was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. “We don’t know what to feel because everything is still the same, it’s been less than 24 hours and it’s unreal,” Oatts’ sister Quintella Graham said. The family told WDSU that Oatts was a son, brother, father and friend. “Christopher was a very loving, helpful, genuine peacemaker and protector. He was an incredible human being,” Graham said. Hours after Oatts’ killing, a piece of yellow crime scene tape remained hanging on a bar on Bourbon Street. Tourist Kameron Swearengin said she was at a hotel a block away from the shooting and heard the commotion. “At four in the morning, I heard a bunch of sirens and stuff. I thought it was nothing good, but I didn’t go out to investigate,” Swearengin said. The shooting occurred two weeks before a major festival draws thousands of tourists to the city. In a statement, a spokesman for the NOLA force said, “The Louisiana State Police will continue to review operational plans with our local, state and federal partners to combat criminal activity throughout the city. Additional public safety plans will be released in coordination with city officials in advance of the upcoming festivals and next year’s Super Bowl.” “It’s sad, it’s terrible, especially when a lot of people come here for the holidays,” Swearengin said. The family said this grief is unimaginable and leaves a void that can’t be filled. “We still can’t believe it. We’re shocked and we’re just trying to gather our thoughts and put things right. You don’t put something like this behind you,” Graham said.

NEW-ORLEANS —

The family of Christopher Oatts Jr. confirmed to WDSU that the Florida resident was shot and killed on Bourbon Street on Saturday morning.

The family said they were in town for a family outing when Oatts was shot and said they were heartbroken that their loved one was taken from them at a time when they were having fun.

“We just pushed it aside. We never thought something like this would happen,” said Oatt’s cousin.

According to New Orleans police, Oatts was shot at about 4:07 a.m. in the 600 block of Bourbon Street. New Orleans police said Oatts was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“We don’t know what to feel because everything is silent, less than 24 hours have passed and it’s surreal,” said Oatt’s sister Quintella Graham.

The family told WDSU that Oatts was a son, brother, father and friend.

“Christopher was a very loving, supportive, genuine peacemaker and protector. He was an amazing human being,” Graham said.

Hours after Oatts’ killing, a piece of yellow crime scene tape remained hanging from a bar on Bourbon Street. Tourist Kameron Swearengin said she was at a hotel a block away from the shooting and heard the commotion.

“At four in the morning I heard a bunch of sirens and stuff. I thought it was nothing good, but I didn’t go out to check,” Swearengin said.

The shooting occurred two weeks before a major festival brings thousands of tourists to the city.

In a statement, a NOLA spokesman said: “The Louisiana State Police will continue to review operational plans with our local, state and federal partners to combat criminal activity throughout the city. Additional public safety plans will be released in coordination with city authorities in advance of the upcoming festivals and next year’s Super Bowl.”

“It’s sad, it’s terrible, especially when so many people come here for vacation,” Swearengin said.

The family said the grief was unimaginable and left a void that could not be filled.

“We still can’t believe it. We’re shocked and trying to collect our thoughts and get things back under control. Things like this don’t let you go,” Graham said.

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