Failed Carjacking Preceded Tense Halloween Standoff at Canal Street Gas Station

NEW ORLEANS, LA — The New Orleans Police Department has released new details and bodycam footage regarding a dramatic hostage standoff that unfolded at a Canal Street gas station on Halloween night, October 31, 2024. The incident began as a failed carjacking before escalating into a high-stakes standoff.

According to police reports, the suspect initially attempted to hijack a vehicle nearby but was unsuccessful. Fleeing from responding officers, the armed suspect ran into a busy gas station convenience store on Canal Street, taking multiple individuals inside hostage.

Tense Standoff and Officer-Involved Shooting

NOPD officers quickly surrounded the service station, establishing a perimeter and initiating negotiations. As the situation grew increasingly volatile, officers entered the building. During the confrontation, officers opened fire, striking the suspect and ending the hostage crisis. None of the hostages sustained serious physical injuries.

On November 13, 2025, the NOPD released bodycam and surveillance footage showing the moment officers fired shots, providing transparency into the fast-moving and dangerous incident. The suspect survived the shooting and has been charged with attempted carjacking, armed robbery, and second-degree kidnapping.

The release of the footage is part of the NOPD's standard procedure for officer-involved shootings, aiming to offer the public a clear understanding of the threat faced by officers during the Halloween night standoff.