WWL-TV, New Orleans, La.

NEW ORLEANS — Two people were killed and five others, including three children, were shot in the Lower Ninth Ward Sunday night, the New Orleans Police Department said.

Two children, ages 2 and 4, and another victim were in critical condition, and two other people — a girl, 13, and a woman, 37, — were stable, police spokesman Frank Robertson said. An 18-year-old woman and a man are dead. The slain man appeared to be in his late 20s, Robertson said in an email.

Robertson said all of the shooting victims were in front of a house when a dark car occupied by men drove up, opened fire and sped off. Witnesses said several people were on the porch.

Robertson said that witnesses observed a dark-colored vehicle, possibly a Honda Accord, with a Louisiana commercial license plate fleeing the scene.

The incident occurred around 8 p.m. Central Time in the 5400 block of Burgundy Street.

Contributing: The Associated Press