Crowds have returned to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, as the city recovers from the deadly New Year's Day shootings that left 14 dead and 35 injured.
On Friday, visitors paid their respects at a roadside memorial on Bourbon Street, near where the suspect drove his rental car into a crowd of protesters at night.
Officials say the driver, 42-year-old US soldier Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group. Jabbar was shot when he was shot by police after crashing into his car.
A legal document published on Friday warned that government agencies are “concerned about possible retaliation or retaliation” after the traffic collision, which is considered a form of terrorism.
Several people involved in the attack have been identified in the US press. They include Kareem Badawi, a freshman from the University of Alabama; Nikyra Dedeaux, aspiring nurse practitioner; Reggie Hunter, father of two; and Nicole Perez, a single mother of a four-year-old son.
By the early hours of Thursday, the authorities had cleared the scene of violence and removed the bodies of the victims. Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the street cleanup began at 2 a.m. that day and ended six hours later.
Bourbon Street reopened for business later that afternoon. Bourbon Street is one of the main pedestrian streets in the famous French Quarter, known for its music, outdoor drinking and partying.
Street performers, tourists and “second tier” brass bands were all back on the road by Friday, looking to get back on track.
Trombone player and lifelong New Orleans resident Jonas Green said it's important for his band to play after the violence.
“I know with these songs, they heal. It changes the mindset we're going through for the better,” Green said. “I've got to keep going.”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry also called on the city to show its courage in the face of bloodshed and heartbreak.
“We care about every life lost in this city,” Landry said Thursday. But it would be sad if we let their losses end because of fear. When the city returns, it will be open to family, friends and loved ones who want a break from life's challenges. “