Lives Full of Promise: Remembering New Orleans Terror Attack Victims

The New Year's Day terror attack on New Orleans' famous Bourbon Street left 14 people killed, 57 injured, and countless families grieving. The horrifying incident shook the city to its core, prompting an outpouring of grief, remembrance, and determination to rebuild.

The Attack

In the early hours of Jan. 1, 2025, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old former U.S. Army soldier from Texas, drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd celebrating the New Year in New Orleans' French Quarter. Witnesses described scenes of terror as bodies were struck by the speeding vehicle. "Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering," survivor Zion Parsons recounted, according to FOX 8.

Jabbar planted improvised explosive devices disguised in coolers along Bourbon Street, though investigators later revealed the bombs failed to detonate due to a transmitter malfunction. Following the vehicular assault, Jabbar crashed his truck, exited, and opened fire on police. Two officers were injured before authorities fatally shot Jabbar during a confrontation.

The FBI confirmed that Jabbar, who had pledged allegiance to ISIS in social media videos, acted alone. His truck displayed an ISIS flag, and officials revealed he had traveled to New Orleans twice in the months leading up to the attack, using smart glasses to record footage of the area he targeted.

Lives Lost: Remembering the Victims

The individuals who tragically lost their lives in the New Year's Day attack were a diverse and cherished group of people, including:

• Kareem Badawi, 18, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was an ambitious student at the University of Alabama. His classmate was also injured in the New Year's attack.
• Tiger Bech, 28, of New York, was a Princeton football standout and a role model to his younger brother. He worked for a New York financial firm and was celebrating New Year's Eve with a friend who was also injured but survived.
• Drew Dauphin, 26, of Montgomery, Alabama, was an Auburn grad who worked as a Honda engineer.
• Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, of Gulfport, Mississippi, had big dreams of becoming a nurse. She was celebrating New Year's on Bourbon Street with her cousin and a friend.
• Billy DiMaio, 25, of Homedel, New Jersey, worked in New York as an account executive at Audacity Inc. He was known for his work ethic and kindness.
• Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, of Gretna, Louisiana, was a bright young man and recent high school graduate.
• Reggie Hunter, 37, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, decided at the last-minute to spend New Year's Eve in the French Quarter with his cousin, who was also struck by the truck but survived. A father of two young children, Hunter was known for his contagious love for life.
• Terrence "Terry" Kennedy, 63, born and raised in New Orleans, had stepped out for a drink in the French Quarter to ring in 2025. A lifelong sports fan and beloved family man, Kennedy loved to root for his favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Nicole Perez, 27, of Metairie, Louisiana, was a hardworking single mother, tirelessly striving to provide a better life for her 4-year-old son. She had recently been promoted to manager at the deli where she worked.
• Edward Pettifer, 31, a British citizen, had ties to royalty through his stepmother, a former nanny to Prince William and Prince Harry.
• LaTasha Polk, 47, of New Orleans, was celebrating New Year's with her brother in the French Quarter. She leaves behind a teenage son.
• Brandon Taylor, 43, of Terrytown, Louisiana, was with his fiancée at a Bourbon Street club and had just stepped onto the street. It's believed he was the last person hit in the attack. His fiancée lovingly described him as her partner in crime.
• Matthew Tenedorio, 25, an audiovisual technician at the Superdome, was remembered for his positivity and infectious laughter. Hours before the attack, Matthew shared a New Year's Eve meal with his parents, Cathy and Louis Tenedorio. They hugged when he left for Bourbon Street, and Matthew promised to text them when he got home. That text never came.
• Elliot Wilkinson, 40, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was remembered fondly by his brother for overcoming life's challenges.

Each name represents a life full of promise, devotion, and love, now mourned by grieving families and communities left reeling in the wake of this senseless tragedy,

A City Grieves Together

On Jan. 2, 2025, Bourbon Street reopened as residents and visitors alike held a candlelight vigil. Tears flowed freely as the community carried memorial crosses and photos of the victims. Gov. Jeff Landry declared a statewide period of mourning of 14 days, with one day dedicated to each of the victims, starting on Jan. 6, 2025.

Local officials vowed to improve security in preparation for Mardi Gras and other major events. Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced plans to hire a tactical expert to review public safety measures, and barricades have been placed at key intersections in the French Quarter.

As the city mourns, it remains united in resilience. "We will come back stronger from this tragedy," said the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans in a statement, honoring Matthew Tenedorio, an employee who lost his life in the attack, as reported by FOX 8. Though the pain lingers, New Orleans stands firm in its determination to honor the lives lost and heal together.

References: New Orleans Victim Had Dinner with Parents Before Attack: 'Happy New Year. Please Text Me When You Get Home' | All 14 Bourbon Street terror attack victims identified | FBI says suspect in New Orleans attack twice visited the city to conduct surveillance | All 14 people killed in New Orleans terrorist attack identified | House Homeland Releases Updated "Terror Threat Snapshot" Assessment in Wake of New Year's Day ISIS-Inspired Terrorist Attack in New Orleans | FBI: New Orleans terrorist researched Bourbon Street balconies, Germany car attack