MAMOU, La. — A deadly shooting that claimed the lives of two people and left 14 others injured during a Mardi Gras Zydeco event in Mamou has prompted renewed questions about the adequacy of security preparations and the decision-making leading up to the tragedy. The event, organized by the city and Mamou City Councilman Derrell Thomas under his business, No Limit Riders, took place on the north side of the street—a location that had raised concerns from local law enforcement weeks before the incident.
A recording obtained by KATC from a Mamou City Council meeting held on February 12—almost a month prior to the shooting—reveals a heated exchange between the Mamou Police Department and the city council regarding the safety of the event. The discussion highlights the growing tension surrounding security measures for the popular celebration.
During the meeting, Assistant Chief Caleb Semien made it clear that the Mamou Police Department had reservations about the event’s security. “In the interest of public safety, the chief of police can decide that if he cannot secure something, he cannot secure something,” Semien stated. “We have nothing to do with Mardi Gras happening or not, we just can tell you that it cannot happen on the north side of the street.”
Semien’s comments pointed to the department’s concerns over the safety risks associated with holding the event in that particular location. While the police had no authority to cancel the event, they strongly suggested relocating it to a more secure area.
Mamou Police Chief Pat Hall echoed these concerns during the meeting. “If you guys (the city council) want to have this and something happens, this will fall on you guys, not me,” Hall warned. The chief’s remarks underscored the significant responsibility the city council would bear if the event took place in a location deemed unsafe.
Despite these warnings, the council did not immediately act on the chief’s suggestion to relocate the event. Instead, they sought legal counsel from the town’s attorney, Nicole Gil, who joined the meeting via telephone. Attorney Gil clarified that it was ultimately the town’s decision, not the chief’s, to move the event. “The chief cannot move it—it’s the town’s event, so the town would have to move it,” she explained. “The chief has an obligation to provide for public safety according to our ordinance, and if Hall feels he cannot secure that area (north side), then other resources need to be brought in.”
Gil’s remarks stressed that while the police could not unilaterally change the event’s location, the responsibility for securing the area and ensuring safety rested with the city. Her statement also implied that additional resources would be necessary if the north side of the street was deemed too risky for the event.
The deadly shooting at the Mardi Gras Zydeco event has now cast a shadow over the city’s handling of public safety in the lead-up to the gathering. Questions remain about whether the concerns raised by law enforcement were fully addressed or if the tragedy could have been prevented with more decisive action.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, the debate over security and accountability in Mamou remains a central issue for local authorities and the community.