Police said the gunshot wounds were believed to be non-life-threatening, while others were hurt trying to flee.
THIBODAUX, LA — Seven people were shot and several others were injured while fleeing after gunfire erupted Sunday night outside a nightclub near East 10th Street and Narrow Street, Thibodaux police said Monday.
The shooting left investigators sorting through evidence from a late-night crowd scene in a Lafourche Parish city about 49 miles southwest of New Orleans. Police Chief Bryan Zeringue said detectives were investigating the incident, but authorities had not released a suspect, motive or details on what led to the gunfire.
The shooting happened shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday, May 24, outside a nightclub near the intersection of East 10th Street and Narrow Street, police said. Officers confirmed seven people suffered gunshot-related injuries. All of those injuries were believed to be non-life-threatening, according to the department. Several more people were hurt as they tried to get away after the shooting began. Police did not release the names or ages of the wounded people Monday, and the total number of people hurt while fleeing was not immediately clear.
WDSU identified the nightclub as Hip Cat Lounge and reported that neighbors described hearing gunfire and watching people run from the area. A woman who said she called police told the station, “Shots was fired,” and said people were running in every direction after the gunfire broke out. The station reported that video from nearby residents captured the sound of shots and commotion in the neighborhood. Police did not confirm Monday how many shots were fired or whether more than one person fired a weapon.
Detectives were processing evidence, interviewing witnesses and following leads connected to the case, police said. The department said the investigation remained active and ongoing. No arrests had been announced as of Monday night. Authorities also had not said whether the shooting started from an argument, whether the nightclub was the intended target or whether any of the wounded people were involved in the dispute. Police said more information would be released when it became available and when sharing it would not affect the investigation.
The shooting drew attention in Thibodaux, the seat of Lafourche Parish and a small city along Bayou Lafourche. The area around East 10th Street and Narrow Street sits near Canal Boulevard, where homes and businesses are close enough that residents heard the gunfire. The late hour and the number of wounded people turned the response into a large crime scene. Police did not say how many officers responded, how long the area remained blocked or whether shell casings or other physical evidence had been recovered.
The case now moves through the early stages of a criminal investigation. Detectives are expected to keep reviewing evidence and statements before police decide whether to identify a suspect or seek arrest warrants. Because no motive had been released, the legal path remained unclear Monday. Potential charges would depend on what investigators determine about the shooter, the number of victims, the type of weapon used and whether the gunfire was aimed at specific people or into a crowd.
The wounded people were expected to survive, police said, but the shooting left unanswered questions for residents and business owners near the scene. Witness accounts described a sudden rush of people trying to escape after shots were fired. Police did not release hospital names or detailed medical conditions. The department also did not say whether officers had recovered surveillance video from the nightclub, nearby homes or businesses. Investigators continued to ask witnesses what they saw and heard before the shooting began.
As of Monday, May 25, police had reported seven gunshot victims, several additional injuries during the escape and no public suspect information. The next major update is expected when investigators can release more details without affecting the case.
Author note: Last updated May 25, 2026.