ConsenCIS DotNet Home: New Orleans: Katrina: Police: Bridges: The Rescue: Danziger Bridge:

Danziger Bridge Incident


   Topics
GeographyHeadlinesInfrastructureKatrinaNeighborhoodsPeopleRecreation
The official story is that on the morning of September 4, 2005 the bad guys, called gunmen, shot at the contractors and then the police shot at fourteen bad guys killing five or six of them ending the incident. Then there were the contractors who were supposed to be crossing the bridge on the way to launch some barges involved in plugging the levee breaches. In the original version the AP said the police shot the contractors. This was hastily revised. Stuff was added later about the police chasing some bad guys, called looters, into homes and killing them. That idea is missing in current versions.

Later the same day a civilian helicopter crashed near the same site. There was confusion about the helicopter and this story was also revised after release.

The conspiracy theorists love this story.
They think there was something untoward going on and a cover up was in progress. They think it is evidence that someone dynamited the levees and didn't want anyone around to see what was happening. By the way there were no levee breaches near the Danziger Bridge. There was no reason to blow up a levee six days after the storm. Although there is an unflooded area east of the bridge it is doubtful that the water levels were high enough to flood it had the levee been erased.

In September 2006 this event resurfaced in a federal lawsuit. The plaintiffs claim the victims on the bridge were innocent bystanders mistakenly targeted by the police. According to one account, as people stranded by the storm gathered on the Danziger bridge, six teenagers in white tee shirts opened fire in the crowd. David Ryder, a contract security guard with a criminal record of his own, thought he was being targeted and called the police. In his call Ryder falsely identified himself as a Sheriff's Deputy, told the police there were two officers down and directed their attention to two groups of bystanders.

Police commandeered a pickup truck and raced to the scene. Upon arrival they opened fire, gunning down six, killing two. One of the two men killed, Ronald Madison was severely retarded and unlikely to be firing at anyone. He was accompanied by his brother Lance Madison who claimed that he and his brother were running away from the shooters when police opened fire. The police arrested Lance Madison after Ryder identified him as one of the shooters. The other man killed was part of a family group walking to a nearby Winn Dixie for supplies.

Confusion ruled the day. Why was there shooting in the crowd? Who were the guys in white tee shirts? What was Ryder up to?  What did the police see when they first arrived? Why did they start shooting? Did anybody shoot at the police? Was there a cover up? Why was the police report amended? There are timing problems, identification problems, and other problems all through this story.


To be continued.

  • The Danziger cops on trial :
    This case has twists and turns like no other. It reveals just how poorly our criminal justice system can operate, especially under political pressure. :: Continue reading...




  • Created : 1/2/2007 4:12:28 AM Updated: 2/23/2007 2:51:40 PM

      f1 f3

    Web Application Byf3 ConsenCIS

     

    sitemap

    1042

     

    Notes regarding this page
    • Subnotes