The New Year’s Day truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans left 14 dead and approximately 30 injured, leaving a trail of grief and unanswered questions. The victims, ranging in age from 18 to 63, hailed from various states including Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey, and Great Britain. The youngest victim was 18-year-old Nikyra Dedeaux, who aspired to be a nurse, while the oldest was 63-year-old Terrence Kennedy, a New Orleans native who enjoyed spending his retirement reveling in the city’s festive atmosphere. Most victims were in their 20s. The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was killed in a shootout with police. All victims succumbed to blunt force trauma, according to the coroner’s office.
Among the victims was Edward Pettifer, a 31-year-old British citizen and stepson of a former royal family nanny. Prince William expressed his shock and sadness at the news. Pettifer’s family released a statement expressing their devastation and offering condolences to the other bereaved families. The UK Foreign Office confirmed it was supporting Pettifer’s family and working with US authorities.
The final victim to be identified was LaTasha Polk, a nursing assistant in her 40s and mother of a teenage son. Her family, who had been frantically searching for her, received confirmation of her death from the coroner’s office on Saturday. A vigil was held that evening, where heartbroken family and friends shared memories and lit candles in her honor. Her cousin described her as a loving and close “sister” and everyone recounted her infectious smile. The delay in identifying Polk was not explained by the coroner’s office.
Other victims included:
* Brandon Taylor (43): A resident of Harvey, Louisiana.
* Elliot Wilkinson (40): Of Slidell, Louisiana. His brother shared a heartfelt Facebook message expressing his love and sorrow.
* Terrence Kennedy (63): A New Orleans native who enjoyed the city’s vibrant French Quarter. His niece described him as a kind and helpful man.
* Billy DiMaio (25): A devoted family man from Holmdel, New Jersey, who recently graduated with a master’s degree and worked for Audacy. His family described him as gentle and humble.
* Hubert Gauthreaux (21): A 2021 graduate of Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, Louisiana.
* Kareem Badawi (23): A University of Alabama freshman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who was home for winter break. His father expressed immense sorrow at the senseless loss of his son’s life.
* Andrew Dauphin (26): A 2023 Auburn University graduate and a process engineer at American Honda Motor Company.
* Matthew Tenedorio (25): Of Picayune, Mississippi, an audiovisual technician at the Superdome. His mother described him as a loving and kind young man who was just starting his life.
* Reggie Hunter (37): A father of two from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who was celebrating New Year’s Eve with a cousin when the attack occurred.
* Tiger Bech (27): A former high school and college football player from Louisiana who had recently been working at Seaport Global. His former coaches and athletic director recalled him as charismatic and talented.
* Nicole Perez (27): A single mother who recently received a promotion at Kimmy’s Deli in Metairie, Louisiana. Her employer described her as a hard-working and devoted mother.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared a period of mourning for the victims, beginning January 6th, with each day dedicated to remembering a different individual lost in the tragedy. He emphasized Louisiana’s resolve to unite and recover from this horrific event. As of Friday, about 16 people remained hospitalized. The incident also resulted in injuries to several others, including a University of Georgia student, two Israeli citizens, a University of Mississippi student, and Ryan Quigley, a teammate of Tiger Bech at Princeton University. Jeremi Sensky, a 51-year-old man from Pennsylvania, suffered severe injuries but survived after undergoing extensive surgery. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the devastating impact of random violence.