7 New Orleans officers surrender

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Seven New Orleans police officers surrendered Tuesday to face charges of murder and attempted murder in a shooting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Several hundred police officers from the city and nearby departments gathered outside the House of Detention in a show of support, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported. One woman called out "thank you guys" as the seven, with their lawyers and union representatives, walked into the jail.

A few protestors also showed up.

Two men, one of them mentally disabled, were killed by police officers responding to reports of sniper fire on the Danziger Bridge six days after much of the city was flooded. Four people were seriously wounded.

The officers say that they responded to gunfire, but the victims say that they were unarmed and have filed federal lawsuits.

A judge ruled last week that the four men charged with first-degree murder are not eligible for bail. Their lawyers expect to challenge that ruling.