Kareem Badawi, a freshman at the University of Alabama, had his life tragically cut short on New Year’s Day. The 18-year-old was among 15 victims, including the perpetrator, in a terrorist attack in New Orleans. His father, Belal Badawi, expressed his grief and outrage, stating, “It’s evil. Nobody can justify killing innocent people. They were just celebrating the new year. I can’t believe how evil people are.” Kareem was one of two Alabamians killed in the attack; Drew Dauphin, an Auburn University graduate, also perished.
Kareem, a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, had just completed his first semester at UA. He had traveled to New Orleans from his Baton Rouge home to celebrate the New Year with high school friends. Around 2:45 a.m., he and a friend, Parker Vidrine, decided to venture back out into the French Quarter. Approximately 30 minutes later, former Army soldier Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who had earlier posted violent threats and pledges of allegiance to the Islamic State on Facebook, carried out the attack. The attack resulted in 14 deaths and numerous injuries, including critical injuries to Vidrine.
Belal Badawi learned of the attack around 6 a.m. He frantically tried contacting Kareem, but his calls went unanswered. His anxieties grew when he discovered Kareem’s phone was located near the attack site. The situation worsened when Vidrine’s mother contacted the Badawis, informing them of Vidrine’s critical condition. The Badawi family immediately traveled to New Orleans, spending four hours at the hospital before receiving the devastating news of Kareem’s death.
A prayer service was held at Kareem’s high school, followed by his funeral. Belal Badawi described his son as “a good kid, a sweet kid, a smart kid…He liked people.” Kareem enjoyed playing sports – basketball, baseball, and football – and had aspirations of becoming a mechanical engineer, a factor influencing his college choice. He chose the University of Alabama, a decision that filled him with immense joy. “He was so in love with Alabama,” his father shared. “He kept texting me and telling me he was so glad about his decision. He said, ‘My dream came true.'” The family is left with the profound loss of a beloved son who “loved life and loved people.”