UPDATE: The NOPD confirms that Mark Gregory Hunter turned himself into NOPD headquarters this afternoon (02/15/2019).  Hunter is charged with second-degree battery in connection with this incident.

ORIIGNAL RELEASE: The NOPD has obtained an arrest warrant for Mark Gregory Hunter (DOB: 02-02-2001) in connection with a battery incident that occurred on February 10, 2019 at the intersection of Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue.

At around 2:20 a.m. on February 10, NOPD Eighth District officers responded to a call reporting a battery incident near the intersection of Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue. Upon arrival at the initial scene, officers discovered a male victim bleeding from the mouth being treated by EMS. A friend of the victim told officers their group left their hotel and immediately saw the bus with several passengers hanging out the window and yelling obscenities at a homeless woman. The victim’s group then reportedly confronted the passengers on the bus about the remarks they were making. Several individuals allegedly exited the bus and began yelling at the victim’s group. The victim’s group reportedly began walking away when one of the individuals from the bus allegedly punched the victim from the rear on the right side of his face and knocked him unconscious. One member of the group called 911 as an assault reportedly began on a second victim. 

Officers located the bus at the intersection of Canal and North Rampart Street, but discovered that the individuals who had confronted the victim's group had reportedly left the bus after it was stopped at another location.

Through follow-up investigation, NOPD Eighth District detectives were able to positively identify Hunter as the perpetrator who allegedly attacked the victim. An arrest warrant was filed and approved for Hunter on a charge of second degree battery.

Anyone with additional information on this incident or on the whereabouts of Mark Gregory Hunter is asked to contact NOPD Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080, or to call anonymously to Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP.