NEW ORLEANS – Authorities have taken a 32-year-old man into custody in connection with one of the mass shootings that unfolded within an hour during a major parade on November 17. The New Orleans Police Department announced the arrest of Alex Harris on Wednesday.

Harris was reportedly involved in a heated argument with another individual before both parties exchanged gunfire, resulting in injuries to nine bystanders, as well as to Harris himself. He was apprehended last week, and law enforcement revealed that he had been on parole at the time of the incident. Numerous charges have been filed against him, including possession of a firearm by a felon, illegal firearm discharge, and reckless firearm discharge at a public gathering.

In addition to Harris, authorities arrested a 36-year-old man, Tavi Roach, who was attempting to flee the scene in a stolen vehicle shortly after the shooting incident. He faces multiple charges as well, including theft, vehicle theft, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Earlier in the same month, police captured Curtis J. Gray, a 19-year-old accused of fatally shooting an aspiring photographer and his uncle about 45 minutes after the first shooting. Gray is currently being held on a bond set at $10 million, according to court documents.

Additionally, Ashley Gray, the mother of the younger suspect, was also arrested and charged as an accessory to second-degree murder related to this incident. Authorities allege that she owned the weapon used in the shooting and conspired with her son to fabricate a false alibi regarding his location at the time of the crime. Tanzanika Ruffin, a lawyer representing Ashley Gray, declined to provide any comments on the situation.

The Orleans Parish Public Defenders Office, which represents Harris, Roach, and Curtis Gray, stated that they do not comment on ongoing cases. A previous private attorney for Harris was unable to share contact details for his family, and a separate attorney who once represented Roach did not respond to inquiries promptly.

The parade, organized by the Nine Times Social Aid & Pleasure Club, is part of the cherished New Orleans tradition known as “second-lines,” where spectators follow brass bands through the streets. These parades hold a significant place in the cultural heritage of the city’s Black community, underscoring their communal importance.

Police anticipate that more arrests and charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.