2007 brings more crime to New Orleans

New Orleans police asked citizens to help quell a rising tide of homicides by providing investigators with information about the crimes.

Seven people have been killed since Monday, including six in a 24-hour stretch that began early Wednesday.

But New Orleans Police Department Assistant Supt. Steven Nicholas said police were getting no help from city residents in solving the crimes. “We don’t have one single witness, that I’m aware of, that’s come forward,” he said.

“It’s black-on-black crime for the most part,” New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin said. “It’s unfortunate.”