NEW ORLEANS, La. (WDNews) – On Monday, July 22, a New Orleans man allegedly severed his mother’s arm with a chainsaw, resulting in injuries to two responding officers. The New Orleans Police Department identified the suspect as 34-year-old John Pittman.
The incident took place around 2 p.m. in the 3500 block of Franklin Avenue in Gentilly. The victim, Pittman’s 70-year-old mother, managed to escape and seek help at a relative’s home over three miles away on Riveria Avenue near Bayou St. John. The means by which she managed to travel that distance, given her severe injuries, remain unclear.
Local residents expressed shock and concern, noting that the suspect had a history of causing disturbances in the neighborhood. Police confirmed that John Pittman is the same individual accused of brutally beating a 73-year-old military veteran at a New Orleans bus station in 2023.
Officers located Pittman on Franklin Avenue, and during the arrest, two officers sustained mild to moderate injuries. The specifics of these injuries were not disclosed.
John Pittman was arrested and charged with aggravated assault by cutting and resisting arrest. His mother was transported to the hospital in critical condition, while the injured officers were treated and released on Tuesday, July 23.
In light of the 2023 bus station attack, Pittman’s bond is now set at a total of $300,000.
