A group of teenagers made a last-minute booking for a short-term rental in Mid-City New Orleans to throw a birthday party. However, things took a turn for the worse when the party stretched into the early hours of Sunday morning and a shooting broke out at the property. The homeowner reported that the rental was ransacked, and one woman was injured during the incident. The property is located in the 500 block of S. Scott Street.
As Cresci rents out half of her duplex on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com, she is taken aback when she discovers empty liquor bottles, abandoned flip-flops, and litter left behind by the partygoers.
Cresci expressed her surprise and disappointment to Fox 8, stating that she had not anticipated the damages caused by the viral internet trend. She remarked that the effort required for the cleaning and repairs was not worth the fleeting internet fame.
As per Cresci’s account, a group of women arrived at the home unexpectedly on Saturday evening. Upon checking her booking records, she confirmed that they were indeed guests. She spoke with a lady who claimed to be one of the teenagers’ mothers and assured Cresci that she would look after the girls. However, Cresci has not seen or heard from her since their conversation.
According to local residents, they heard nearly a dozen shots being fired in quick succession. Upon investigation, the police found various spent casings scattered across the street. The nearby homes and cars were pockmarked with bullet holes, indicating the intensity of the gunfire.
Cresci emphasized the power of the gun used, stating that it was not a toy or a mere.22 caliber firearm, but rather one capable of piercing through steel.
On Sunday morning, residents were observed cleaning up the aftermath of the incident. As part of the damaged property, a man’s car was left with bullet holes.
One man shared that his car was riddled with bullet holes, but he expressed gratitude that he and his companions were unharmed. The exact number of bullet holes was impossible for him to determine.
According to the man, he purchased the adjacent property only a few months ago, and he can already sense that this particular occurrence was exceptional.
According to Fox 8, a local resident expressed their shock and concern about the recent events in their neighborhood. They stated, “Everyone was frantic and concerned and freaking out. This doesn’t happen in this neighborhood.”
According to Cresci, the gunfire was the only thing that woke her up and the teenagers were not making any noise.
She reminisced, “I’m not sure what was happening… they probably had been drinking for hours. Downstairs, there was a bottle of tequila and two other bottles of liquor.”
Just days after city councilmembers JP Morrell and Joe Giarrusso expressed their disappointment with the Cantrell Administration’s failure to enforce short-term rental regulations, this incident occurred.
Giarrusso emphasized that in their line of work, perception is reality when it comes to the enforcement of short-term rentals in the city. He acknowledged that there is a widespread perception that the city is not enforcing these rentals as rigorously as it should be.
According to a nearby resident, hotels prioritize security measures and have efficient building management in place. They thoroughly screen their guests before allowing them to enter. However, with Airbnb, all you need is a credit card to book a stay, making the screening process less rigorous.
Cresci’s rental remained in compliance with city regulations, despite the chaotic situation. The rental had a valid city permit on file since at least July 2023, with no violations listed.
