Chicago radio host was in New Orleans when 'hail of bullets' killed a waiter, wounded a friend

CHICAGO - WXRT disc jockey Terri Hemmert says she was celebrating her birthday at a New Orleans restaurant over the weekend when "a hail of bullets" killed a waiter and wounded one of her friends.

"Twenty-eight of my precious friends were hitting the floor," Hemmert said in a Facebook post. "I looked to my right. Two very special women were on the floor by my feet. There was blood. And a bullet hole on the wall. Two inches from me. And a bullet in my friend’s back. It was surreal. But it was real. Only too real.

"Someone died," she continued. "Nobody we knew. But somebody’s son. Somebody’s brother. I will spare you some details, but the point here is that when you get tired of hearing about these shootings think again."

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The shooting occurred Friday outside Mandina’s Restaurant in New Orleans’ Mid-City neighborhood. Police said they believe two people targeted the waiter who was killed by the gunfire. Family members identified him as Hilbert Walker III, 23.

A private security guard returned fire and was not injured. A condition was not available for Hemmert’s friend, whose name has not been released.

No one was reported in custody.

The shooting came on the first day of the two-weekend New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, one of the busiest tourist periods in the city.

Hemmert began her post by saying, "What I did on my spring vacation. I went to New Orleans. I did not go to the Jazz and Heritage Festival. I did not eat Crawfish Monica. I did start my big birthday party. It was interrupted by a hail of bullets.

"It’s no longer a figure of speech when you say you dodged a bullet," she said. "And if someone says ‘this is not America’ or ‘this is not us,’ they had better duck. I’m not one to throw a punch, but there’s always a first time. I have a friend who will carry a bullet in her back… If you attend the Fest For Beatles you know my friend Victoria. I’ve known her since she was a 14-year-old.

"I’m pissed," Hemmert continued. "I’m pissed at the madness. And I am grateful that every one of the 28 people I hold dear are living another day. My two friends and roommates this weekend and I are laying low. We’re not going to the fest. No restaurants, please. For now."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.