Six New Orleans police officers were charged in connection with the deadly confrontation on the Danziger Bridge in the days after Hurricane Katrina left New Orleans in turmoil, the Justice Department announced on
Tuesday.

In the indictment unsealed on Tuesday, the government accused four officers of shooting unarmed people on the bridge. The four and two supervisors were accused of trying to cover up
the incident. Two people died and four were wounded in the shootings.

“As our investigation of the Danziger Bridge incident shows, the Justice Department will vigorously pursue anyone who allegedly violated the
law,” Atty. Gen. Eric Holder said in a prepared statement. “Put simply,
we will not tolerate wrongdoing by those who have sworn to protect the
public.”

According to the indictment, Sgts. Robert Gisevius and Kenneth Bowen, and officers Anthony Villavaso and Robert Faulcon were charged in the shootings. They and Sgts. Arthur Kaufman and Gerard
Dugue were accused of helping to obstruct justice in the subsequent
investigations.

Tensions were running high after Katrina hit New Orleans, causing massive flooding and dislocation. Civil order had frayed when the incident took place on Sept. 4, 2005.

According to the indictment, Bowen, Gisevius, Faulcon and Villavaso open fire on an unarmed family on the east side of the bridge, killing 17-year-old
James Brissette; and wounding Susan Bartholomew, 38, Leonard Bartholomew
III, 44, the Bartholomews' daughter, Lesha, 17, and their nephew, Jose
Holmes, 19. The Bartholomews’ 14-year-old son ran away from the shooting
and was fired at, but was not injured.

Minutes later a second shooting took place on the west side of the bridge, where police shot at brothers Lance and Ronald Madison, killing Ronald, a 40-year-old
man with severe mental disabilities. The indictment alleges Faulcon
shot Ronald Madison in the back as Ronald ran away. Bowen is charged
with stomping and kicking Ronald Madison while Ronald was wounded, but
not yet dead. Ronald later died at the scene.

“In the days following Hurricane Katrina, the people of New Orleans were relying upon law enforcement to protect public safety. The officers indicted
today are accused of abusing their power and violating their public
trust." said Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for the civil
rights division.

The four officers charged with killing civilians face maximum penalties of life in prison or the death penalty. The officers face additional penalties for charges related to a
conspiracy to cover up what had happened on the bridge, and conspiracies
to file charges against two of the victims.

Kaufman faces a maximum of 120 years in prison, and Dugue faces a maximum 70 years in prison.

Tuesday’s indictment follows guilty pleas from five former New Orleans Police Department officers who admitted that they participated in a conspiracy to obstruct justice and cover up what
happened on the bridge.

--Michael Muskal