Mannequin in Truck Sparks Gunfire in New Orleans
(New Orleans, LA) - If you live in New Orleans and you are trying to prevent your truck from being broken into, take the advice of one man who suggests you not put a mannequin in the passenger's seat.
NOLA Man's Unusual Plan to Stop Vehicle Break-Ins
The even wilder part of the story is what the mannequin was wearing: a Michael Myers mask from the Halloween series of movies!
Ummmmm, yeah.......that would scare the heck out of me, and sure did some perpetrators!
This wild story is the kind of story you would file under "I Can't Believe This Happened"! But, this situation really did happen! The whole situation began to unfold for the victim and his neighbors when a bunch of gunshots rang out in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 18, according to WWLTV.
Gunshots Shatter a Quiet New Orleans Morning
Neighbors in the area of Joseph and Willow Streets were startled to be awoken by gunshots, as one man's idea of putting a mannequin in the passenger side of his truck really startled some would-be burglars.
Why the Victim Thought It Seemed Like a Good Idea
No one wants their vehicle broken into, so the victim, who does not want to be identified, thought, why not put a mannequin in the passenger's seat to scare off would-be burglars and put a Michael Myers mask on it?
20 Bullets and Multiple Targets
It probably sounded like a good idea at the time, but it backfired as by the time the shooting was over, the man's truck was full of 20 bullets.
According to the victim, the people in question were going up the street trying to break into a vehicle, and when they got to his, they were startled and just started firing, thinking it was a person in the front seat of the truck.
READ MORE: LOUISIANA CHIEF OF POLICE PENS HILARIOUS LETTER TO CRIMINALS
The victim says the main suspect jumped back from the truck, reacting to being startled, then started shooting, and that's when two other people at the truck did the same thing.
The police said two other vehicles were struck by gunfire, and the house of the victim was also struck. He said the bullet ended up in the side of his house, right above where he and his wife sleep.
When Louisiana-Style Crime Deterrence Backfires
A lady who lives across the street, Anna Hedstrom, says it was a wild wakeup call, and at first she thought it might be fireworks. The victim says he no longer thinks it's a good idea to put a mannequin wearing a Michael Myers mask in your truck to deter break-ins.
Police are still searching for suspects in the case.