Toben Clements (left) and Jake Rovacsek (right) were shot after leaving the popular
French Quarter and venturing to the West Bank area. (Photos: Facebook)

Two Australian tourists are recovering in hospital after being shot in the US city of New Orleans during what police say, was an early morning drug run.

New Orleans police say the two West Australian Curtain university students were shot just days after taking part in an international college event.

Toben Clements and Jake Rovacsek had been drinking at Bourbon Street Bar The Swamp about 4am on Wednesday (local time) when they attempted to buy drugs.

It is understood the two approached “an unknown black male” and asked about purchasing drugs from him. They then left the bar and followed the man to a dark-coloured sedan where a driver was waiting inside.

He drove them across the Mississippi River to Algiers, a residential suburb.

“The driver took the two victims toward Algiers and along the way, he told them that it would cost several hundred dollars to purchase drugs,” police said in a statement.

“The victims told the driver they did not have the money available.

“When they arrived at LB Landry Avenue and Shepard Street, the pair said they exited the vehicle and were approached by another unknown male who demanded their money.

“When they told him they didn’t have it, the unknown male shot them both and then jumped in the vehicle with the unknown driver and fled the scene.”

Police say one of the victims was shot in the stomach while the other was shot in the chest.

Detectives have called on locals to help identify the three suspects involved in the incident.

– with other agencies