New Orleans is a city that lives in the public imagination as a place of neon lights, brass bands, and a certain kind of lawless magic. But for those of us who actually live here or follow the data, the reality of the last year has been a jarring mix of tragedy and a surprising, almost quiet, statistical shift. If you're looking for a list of people killed in New Orleans, you’re likely looking for more than just names; you’re looking for the story of a city trying to outrun its "Murder Capital" reputation while reeling from one of the most horrific mass casualty events in its history.
Honestly, the numbers tell two different stories. On one hand, 2025 saw a massive 34% drop in homicides compared to the previous year. That's a big deal. On the other hand, the year started with a nightmare on Bourbon Street that the city is still talking about in hushed tones.
The 2025 Bourbon Street Tragedy
New Year’s Day is usually about hangovers and high hopes, but 2025 started with a horrific vehicle-ramming attack on Bourbon Street. A man named Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers around 3:15 a.m. It wasn't just a random accident; investigators later linked it to extremist motives.
Fourteen people lost their lives that morning. When we talk about the list of people killed in New Orleans, these are the names that define the year for many:
- Kareem Badawi, 18: A freshman at the University of Alabama who had just graduated from high school in Baton Rouge.
- Martin “Tiger” Bech, 27: A former Princeton football player and bonds trader who was back home for the holidays.
- Andrew Dauphin, 26: An Auburn graduate and engineer known for his infectious smile.
- Ni’Kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 18: An aspiring nurse from Mississippi who was seen on social media petting a police horse just minutes before the attack.
- Billy DiMaio, 25: A former standout athlete from New Jersey.
- Huber Gauthreaux, 21: A local young man and graduate of Archbishop Shaw.
- Reggie Hunter, 37: A store manager and father of two who had just texted his family "Happy New Year."
- Terrence Kennedy, 63: One of the oldest victims and a New Orleans local known for his big heart.
- Nicole Perez, 27: A mother to a 4-year-old son who was out celebrating with friends.
- Edward Pettifer, 31: A British national with ties to the UK royal family’s inner circle.
- LaTasha Polk, 47: A New Orleans local who was one of the three women killed in the chaos.
- Brandon Taylor, 43: A restaurant cook and rapper who was celebrating with his fiancée.
- Matthew Tenedorio, 25: A young professional who had just landed his dream job.
- Elliot Wilkinson, 40: A resident of nearby Slidell who was deeply loved by his family.
It’s a heavy list. Each of these people had a life, a family, and a reason to be on that street that had nothing to do with violence. The perpetrator also died in a shootout with police, bringing the total death count for that single event to 15.
💡 You might also like: Why the 2013 Moore Oklahoma Tornado Changed Everything We Knew About Survival
Beyond the Headlines: The Daily Reality of 121 Homicides
If you look at the NOPD data for the full year of 2025, the total number of criminal homicides sat at 121.
Now, look at that number closely. In 2022, the city saw 266 murders. We’ve gone from being the "Murder Capital" to seeing the lowest homicide rate in nearly fifty years. But "lower" doesn't mean "none." Behind those 121 cases are individual stories of domestic disputes, street violence, and tragic accidents.
For instance, in August 2025, a homicide in the 600 block of Iberville Street led to the arrest of Timothy Hall. Later that month, another killing on Allen Street resulted in the arrest of a teenager, Ra’Quine Butler. These aren't the names that make national news like the Bourbon Street victims, but they are the names that populate the daily list of people killed in New Orleans.
Why the Numbers Are Dropping
You’ve probably heard different theories. Some credit the deployment of the National Guard, which President Trump ordered into the city. Others point to the work of local community groups and a more "comprehensive" record-keeping system by the NOPD.
📖 Related: Ethics in the News: What Most People Get Wrong
Basically, the city is under a microscope. With a new record system in place as of late 2025, the police claim they are tracking crimes more accurately than ever. Some numbers might actually look higher in the future just because the reporting is better, not because there's more crime.
Understanding the "Justifiable" vs. "Criminal" Distinction
When you're scanning a list of people killed in New Orleans, you have to understand how the NOPD categorizes deaths. They don't include everything in the "murder" count.
- Criminal Homicides: These are the murders and manslaughters that the police are actively investigating as crimes.
- Justifiable Homicides: These are often self-defense cases. If a store owner shoots an armed robber, that person is "killed," but they aren't on the "murder" list.
- Accidental/Suicide: These are excluded from the violent crime statistics.
This is why you might see a news report saying 140 people were "killed" while the police department says there were only 121 "murders." It’s a technicality that matters a lot when you're looking at the safety of the city.
The Impact of Modern Policing
It’s worth mentioning that the homicide clearance rate—the percentage of cases where the police actually catch the person responsible—improved to about 65% in 2025. This is huge. It means that for the first time in a long time, there’s a better-than-average chance that a killer in New Orleans will actually face a courtroom.
👉 See also: When is the Next Hurricane Coming 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
We also saw a massive 44% drop in non-fatal shootings. This is a "leading indicator." Usually, when fewer people are getting shot and surviving, fewer people end up dead a few months later. It’s a cycle that finally seems to be breaking.
What to Do With This Information
If you are a resident or a traveler, seeing a list of people killed in New Orleans can be scary. But the context is everything. Most of the violence in the city remains concentrated in specific neighborhoods and often involves people who are already known to the legal system.
The Bourbon Street attack was an anomaly—a horrific, high-profile outlier. The daily reality of the city is actually becoming safer for the average person.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
- Monitor the NOPD News Portal: They release weekly preliminary stats that give you the most current "Notable Arrests" and incident reports.
- Check the Coroner's Office Reports: For a full list of all deceased individuals (not just homicide victims), the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office is the official record-keeper.
- Use the City’s Crime Map: New Orleans has an interactive map where you can filter by "Homicide" to see exactly where incidents occurred in your neighborhood.
The city isn't perfect, and 121 lives lost is still 121 too many. But as New Orleans heads into the 2026 Mardi Gras season, the narrative is shifting from a city in crisis to a city in recovery. Stay vigilant, but don't let the headlines bury the progress being made on the ground.
Actionable Insight:
If you are researching specific victims for legal or personal reasons, always cross-reference NOPD press releases with the Orleans Parish Coroner’s official death certificates, as media reports in the immediate aftermath of an incident often contain spelling errors or incorrect ages. For those looking to support the community, local organizations like SilenceIsViolence provide direct advocacy for the families of those lost to the city's street violence.