National Guard Soldier Leaves Rifle in New Orleans Bathroom

Incident raises concerns after last year's Bourbon Street attack

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Louisiana National Guard soldier on patrol in New Orleans' French Quarter left their service rifle unattended in a bathroom at the Lafitte Hotel on Bourbon Street. The incident has raised concerns among residents and workers in the area, especially in light of last year's attack on Bourbon Street.

Why it matters

The French Quarter is one of New Orleans' busiest tourist districts, and the presence of National Guard soldiers there is meant to provide an added layer of security. The loss of a service rifle, even temporarily, is a serious breach of protocol that could have had dangerous consequences, especially given the recent history of violence in the area.

The details

On Sunday night, a National Guard soldier went into the bathroom of the Lafitte Hotel on Bourbon Street and accidentally left their service rifle leaning against the sink. A picture of the unattended rifle was posted on social media, sparking concern from residents and workers in the area who worried about the potential for another attack similar to the one that occurred on Bourbon Street last year.

  • The incident occurred on Sunday night, February 9, 2026.
  • Last year's attack on Bourbon Street that remains fresh in many people's minds happened in 2025.

The players

Louisiana National Guard

The state's National Guard unit, which has approximately 350 soldiers currently assigned to patrol the French Quarter in New Orleans as an added security measure.

Nervous Dwayne

A performer who works in the French Quarter area of New Orleans.

Benji

A worker in the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans.

Bob Simms

A resident of the French Quarter and co-founder of the French Quarter Task Force.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I kind of feel bad for him because that's one of the main rules of being in the Army I would think is you're always supposed to have your weapon in your hands and not in somebody else's.”

— Nervous Dwayne, Performer

“Anybody who figured that they wanted to be a hero or do another attack on the French Quarter, it could have been bad.”

— Benji, Worker

“These guardsmen are here for an extended period of time and they're working many, many hours a day. You see them all the time going backwards and forward on foot, you know, just making the area safer. So, it's a mistake. It's a pity it happened but mistakes happen.”

— Bob Simms, Resident and co-founder of French Quarter Task Force

What’s next

The Louisiana National Guard has stated that the incident is being handled internally, but it remains to be seen if there will be any disciplinary action taken against the soldier involved.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of strict weapons protocols, even for highly trained military personnel, when operating in densely populated civilian areas. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing security concerns in the French Quarter following last year's attack, underscoring the need for vigilance and proper procedures to maintain public safety.