US police name teenager, AKEIN SCOTT as prime suspect in mass shooting at New Orleans mother's day parade

US police have named a teenager as the prime suspect in a mass shooting during a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans that left 19 people wounded, including two children. Several witnesses have now identified 19-year-old local Akein Scott as the gunman who opened fire on Sunday's parade.

New Orleans police superintendent Ronal Serpas said: "We would like to remind the community and Akein Scott that the time has come for him to turn himself in." A photo of Scott hung from a podium in front of the police chief as he added: "We know more about you than you think we know

"The people today chose to be on the side of the young innocent children who were shot and not on the side of a coward who shot into the crowd.

A $10,000 reward has been offered in a bid to help catch the gunman.

Police also said that Scott has previously been arrested for illegal carrying of a weapon, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, resisting an officer and possession of heroin.

Video footage of the incident was also released which shows a crowd gathered for the boisterous parade on Sunday before they suddenly scatter in all directions, with some falling to the ground.

They appear to be running from a man in a white T-shirt and dark trousers who turns and runs out of the picture.