NEW ORLEANS – Kim Alexander sat in the middle of the half-filled sanctuary as music and prayer filled the room. While Bishop Lester Love spoke of healing and hope from the pulpit, Alexander didn’t believe the city would be any safer after the car rampage. Killed 14 New Year’s Eve revelers on Bourbon Street.
“There are a lot of underserved areas in the French Quarter, there are a lot of underserved areas in the city,” the 60-year-old New Orleans resident told NBC News after the service. She said she thinks more officers should be recruited.
She was not alone in her worries. Hundreds of New Orleanians gathered at City of Love Church Saturday morning to offer solace and understanding following the attack. With hands raised and tears streaming down their faces, attendees sang, shouted and prayed — not just for the victims, but for the attacker, the city and a safe future.
The attacker, 42 years old Shamsuddin JabbarA U.S. Army veteran from Texas drove a rental truck through the crowds on Bourbon Street in the early New Year’s. Authorities said he posted videos online during a trip to New Orleans in which he professed his support for ISIS. After Plow through the crowdJabbar was killed in a shootout with the police.
The mood at the morning prayer service swung between sadness and determination. Police officers stood with grieving members of the New Orleans community.
“Even though we’re going through this, things will get better,” Love told the congregation. “The city is hurting, but it’s also resilient.”
As the city prepares for the Super Bowl next month and Mardi Gras in March, law enforcement and local officials vowed to beef up security measures.
After the vigil, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said the city would remain vigilant in the coming months to keep residents and tourists safe, but she could not rule out another mass killing.
“On any given day, anybody can do anything,” Hutson said, adding that law enforcement agencies will be well-prepared to respond. “If somebody wants to do something, they’re going to figure out how.”
Still, the tragedy has left some questioning whether New Orleans is ready for millions of visitors in the coming months. In addition to the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival takes place in April, and the annual event attracts about 400,000 people each year, according to its website.
Some are relying on faith to persevere. “I believe God is directing my steps,” said Tishone Francis, 45, who attended the service.
Will Holmes, 44, is optimistic, he said, because New Orleans is equipped to handle these events.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who attended the service, reiterated her commitment to helping the victims and their families. In addition to the 14 people killed, dozens were injured, many of whom are still receiving treatment at area hospitals.
Former police superintendent Michael Harrison praised the quick response of law enforcement agencies, saying the tragedy could have been worse.
Harrison said the attacker could have used his gun instead of the truck, because “he wasn’t going to hit anything.”