A Mother's Day parade in New Orleans, U.S., ended in terror when shooting happened at approximately 2 p.m. Sunday that injured 17 people, Nola.com reports.

The shooting was aimed at the second line where Original Big 7 Social Aid and Pleasure Club was participating. The club was celebrating its 15 years, and no one was expecting that bad things will happen as they start the parade from the club's home at 1825 Elysian Fields Avenue.

Edward Buckner of the Original Big 7 Club said that the parade was conducted "to celebrate the women of America in New Orleans for the hard time that they have taking care of children, taking care of everyone."

He expresses the club's deep sympathy for what happened and wishes speedy recovery for the victims. "We hope that people who were shot don't stop being fans of Big 7, because it wasn't anything that they did or the club did, it was just a random act of violence."

Mr Buckner put emphasis on the fact that the shooting happened "not because of the associated pleasure clubs that this type of terrorist act happens. That's not the type of crowd that follows us. We have people as old as 70 and as young as 5 years old who parade." He said that the shooting had never happened in the past parades organised by the club.

NOPD spokesman Remi Barden said that the shooting happened in the 1400 block of Frenchman Street at the crossing of North Villere Street.

According to Mr Braden, "many of the victims were grazed, some by bullets that richoted. At this point, there are no fatalities, and most of the wounds are not life threatening. But all medical conditions are not known at this time as victims were rushed to nearby hospitals. Detectives are conducting interviews, retrieving any surveillance video in the area and, of course, collecting all evidence. This is an extremely unusual occurrence, and we're confident that we will make swift arrests."

NOPD Superintendent Ronald Serpas reported that there were at least four people undergoing surgery for the wounds caused by gunshots.

Most of the injured were second liners in the parade and were giving out teddy bears to those whose watching the parade.

Mr Serpas said that officials had already identified three men as suspects and that an investigation is ongoing.

Several witnesses recalled what transpired at the parade.

Shermaine Tyler, 32, said that she and her mother were planning to join the parade at the second line. They already had their balloons and cards with them, but she became hesitant when she heard firecrackers coming from the second line. At first, she thought that it was part of the celebration, but as she listens intently, she was sure they are gun shots.

Ms Tyler then run out of their house and a man who was shot fell on her lap. "This is all ridiculous. We all bleed the same blood. We all come from the same God. Everyone is getting shot, and for what?"

Another witness, Adriana Stewart, was marching in the second line when the shooting happens, "This was my first time taking my kids to the second line. It is not fair to the mothers or the kids."

One witness who refused to be named said that she was watching the parade from her porch when she heard gunshots and suddenly saw people scattering and running to all directions.

"It's sad that people can't gather together and celebrate. You don't just go into a crowd and fire into a group of innocent people."