NEW ORLEANS — Federal officials will investigate the New Orleans police officers involved in fatal shootings that happened on a city bridge after Hurricane Katrina, authorities said Tuesday.
The announcement comes two weeks after the dismissal of state charges against seven New Orleans police officers accused of gunning down several people on the Danziger Bridge in the chaotic aftermath of Katrina, killing two men.
“In the best spirit of law enforcement coordination, and at the request of the victims’ families, the New Orleans district attorney has referred the matter to the United States Department of Justice for review,” U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said.
Letten said his office and the FBI would take “as much time and resources as necessary” to find whether the officers will face federal criminal charges.
Survivors of the Sept. 4, 2005, shootings have said the officers fired at unarmed people crossing the Danziger Bridge to get food at a grocery store.
The officers acknowledged shooting at people on the bridge but said they did so only after taking fire.
