National Guard member leaves rifle in French Quarter hotel bathroom

Hotel owner says it was an accident, but highlights the danger of such mistakes

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A National Guard member accidentally left his rifle inside a private bathroom at a hotel in New Orleans' French Quarter over the weekend. The hotel owner, who also works in law enforcement, says the staff immediately secured the area and the soldier returned to retrieve the weapon within minutes. While the owner understands it was a mistake, he acknowledges the potential danger of such an incident.

Why it matters

The incident raises concerns about firearm safety and security, especially with a large National Guard presence in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras. While the hotel owner believes it was an honest mistake, leaving a loaded weapon unattended in a public space could have had serious consequences.

The details

According to the hotel owner, Joseph Licciardi, a National Guard member using the private, isolated bathroom at the Lafayette Hotel accidentally left his rifle behind. A tour guide who was allowed to use the restroom instead of waiting in line discovered the weapon. Licciardi's staff immediately secured the area by putting a padlock on the bathroom door to prevent access until the soldier returned within minutes to retrieve the firearm.

  • Over the weekend, a National Guard member accidentally left his rifle in a private bathroom at the Lafayette Hotel in New Orleans' French Quarter.

The players

Joseph Licciardi

The owner of the Lafayette Hotel, who also has 50 years of experience working in law enforcement with the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office.

Raphael Goyeneche

A representative of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, who stated that while the incident was unacceptable, it appears to have been a human error and not intentional.

Louisiana National Guard

The state's National Guard, which is investigating the incident and assuring the public that commanders are addressing the issue with their troops to prevent it from happening again.

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What they’re saying

“I just thank God nothing happened because it was a quick mistake and it got solved right away with no incident.”

— Joseph Licciardi, Hotel Owner (gulfcoastnewsnow.com)

“It's unacceptable, but in the context of what happened, it was just a human error; it wasn't anything intentional.”

— Raphael Goyeneche, Metropolitan Crime Commission (gulfcoastnewsnow.com)

“People should be assured that every sergeant and commander is talking to their troops to make sure this doesn't happen again.”

— Gen. Russel Honore (gulfcoastnewsnow.com)

What’s next

The Louisiana National Guard is investigating the incident internally to determine how it occurred and ensure it does not happen again.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of firearm safety and security, especially in high-traffic tourist areas like the French Quarter. While the hotel owner and officials believe it was an honest mistake, leaving a loaded weapon unattended poses a serious risk that must be addressed through training and accountability measures.