Two people were killed and 10 others were injured in two separate shootings Sunday during a popular second-line parade in New Orleans, authorities said.

The New Orleans Police Department said it is investigating two incidents, a shooting and a homicide, that occurred Sunday afternoon near the parade route. A total of 12 people were wounded by gunfire, including two who have been pronounced dead, according to police.

"There are two different scenes here," New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said at a Sunday evening news conference. "There are two different shooting events. They are 45 minutes apart from each other."

Police said the first incident happened around 3:40 p.m. local time during a second-line event in the city’s St. Roch neighborhood, just northeast of the popular French Quarter neighborhood. Officers reported hearing gunfire and discovered eight victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

All eight victims were transported to a local hospital and an additional victim later arrived at the hospital, according to police. Kirkpatrick said a preliminary investigation revealed a vehicle and two weapons were involved, and shots had been fired into a crowd.

About 45 minutes later, officers responded to a separate report of gunfire at an intersection and located two victims at the scene, according to police. Emergency personnel pronounced one victim deceased at the scene while the second victim was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Police said a third victim was reportedly involved in the incident but had been privately transported to a hospital and was listed in stable condition.

Police "immediately shut down the second line event" as part of the investigation, according to the New Orleans Police Department. Kirkpatrick said it is currently unclear whether the two incidents were related because they occurred 45 minutes apart.

Police did not provide suspect information and no arrests have been announced as of Sunday night.

New Orleans police have 'history' with second-line parade

Kirkpatrick said the New Orleans Police Department has "history here with this particular second-line." In 2013, 19 people were injured and one was trampled after gunfire broke out during an informal second-line parade on Mother's Day.

"This particular second line is one of our absolute largest second lines that we have in the city. It draws thousands of people," Kirkpatrick said. "It's a wonderful event, there's no doubt about it."

Around 100 officers had been assigned to the event, according to Kirkpatrick, who noted that the department had assigned additional officers "knowing that (the event) had a potential for violence."

According to the Second Lines website, the second lines are cultural parades organized by Social, Aid, and Pleasure Clubs in New Orleans. The first line is the parade's main section and the brass band while the second line is "people who follow the brass band to enjoy the music and dance," the website states.

"Second Lining is a dance form where participants dance and walk along the S.A.P.C. in an African-based, free-form style. Second Lining is one of the most African retentive cultures in the United States," according to the website.

(This story was updated to add new information.)