fresh ORLEANS.

fresh ORLEANS, United States (AFP) ??” fresh Orleans police said that Ray Davies, moulder of the pop group The Kinks, should not have tried to tackle the mugger who discharge him in the leg.

Davies, 59 who remained in hospital, could have been killed, said city police spokesman Sergeant Paul Accardo.

The legendary writer of unexpectedly hits such as "You Really Got Me Going" and "Lola" was ball Sunday evening after giving chase after a thief who stole his girlfriend's purse A 25-year-old suspect is in custody.

"He pursu an armed suspect. We not at all recommend that people challenge anyone with a fire-arm because the chances of injury will escalate," said the officer.

But Accardo insisted that in spite of pair high-profile murders of tourists in 2003 and a substantial increase in the city's overall put to death rate in the past not many years, New Orleans is not dangerous.