One man has been killed and nine people injured in a shooting in New Orleans’ French Quarter, a bustling tourist destination packed with bright lights, bars and live music.

Police Superintendent Michael Harrison said officers responded about 1.30am (local time) on Sunday to the shooting.

The victims were two women and eight men, ranging in age from 20 to 37, he said.

The man died at a hospital.

Superintendent Harrison said police did not know what motivated the shooting, but one male victim was among two men arrested on firearms charges.

He said the shooting happened despite an increased police presence for a local football game on Saturday night.

Glean Williams, who was selling hats a block away from the shooting, told NOLA.com that people ran into doorways and hotels, or hid behind palm trees.

“It was panic. Everybody started running. People getting run over, stepped on, knocked over,” Mr Williams, 24, said.

One person dead in a late night shooting on Bourbon Street. 9 others have been hospitalized. pic.twitter.com/onLgnST6KN

— FOX&friends Weekend (@ffweekend) November 27, 2016

Superintendent Harrison appealed for witnesses so “we can hold those accountable who committed this heinous crime and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law”.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu said authorities would pursue the shooters “very, very aggressively”.

“It’s totally unacceptable,” Mr Landrieu said.

“I mean, the violence just continues to spin out of control with people brandishing weapons whenever they think they can.”