It’s been about a year since that awful New Year’s Day morning on Bourbon Street, but the weight of it hasn't really lifted. When you think about the new orleans attack victims names, you aren't just looking at a list of people caught in a horrific act of violence. You’re looking at a group of people who were just trying to celebrate. They were parents, athletes, and students. Honestly, the randomness of it is what still gets to people.
Fourteen lives were cut short when a truck was driven into a crowd of revelers. This wasn't just some local incident; the victims came from across Louisiana, several other states, and even across the Atlantic.
The Families Left Behind: New Orleans Attack Victims Names
Putting a face to a name matters. We often see headlines that talk about numbers, but the numbers don't tell you about the 4-year-old son left behind or the "infectious" smile of a college grad. Here are the people we lost that day.
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux was only 18. She was from Gulfport, Mississippi, and had big plans to become a nurse. Her mom, Melissa, said she was the "sweetest person" and had just snuck away to the city with her cousin and a friend to ring in the New Year. She was supposed to start college just weeks after the attack happened.
Then there was Reggie Hunter, 37, a father of two from Baton Rouge. He worked hard as a store manager and basically went to Bourbon Street on a whim after his shift ended. He’d just sent a "Happy New Year" text to his family group chat seven minutes after midnight. He’s survived by two sons—one who was only 19 months old at the time.
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Local Faces and Visitors
Two of the victims were actually from New Orleans itself. Terrence Kennedy, 63, was a quiet man known as "Terry." His family spent hours calling hospitals trying to find him before the coroner confirmed the news. LaTasha Polk, 47, was the final victim to be publicly identified.
- Martin "Tiger" Bech, 27: A former All-Ivy football player at Princeton who was working as a junior bonds trader in New York.
- Nicole Perez, 27: A single mother from Metairie who had just been promoted to manager at a local deli.
- Hubert Gauthreaux, 21: A graduate of Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero.
- Andrew "Drew" Dauphin, 26: An Auburn University graduate who worked in the school’s RFID Lab.
- Billy DiMaio, 25: An account executive from New Jersey who was just visiting with friends.
- Matthew Tenedorio, 25: A local audiovisual technician for the Superdome.
The list continues with Kareem Badawi, 18; Brandon Taylor, 43; and Elliot Wilkinson, 40. There was also an international tragedy involved; Edward Pettifer, 31, was a British citizen from London who was killed in the chaos.
Why This Specific Tragedy Left Such a Mark
The suspect, identified by the FBI as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, turned a night of celebration into a nightmare. But what really stung the local community—and you’ll see this discussed in NOLA forums even now—was the controversy over the security bollards.
New Orleans actually had top-of-the-line barriers designed to stop exactly this kind of vehicle-ramming attack. For some reason, they weren't in place that morning. It’s one of those "what if" scenarios that makes the loss of these 14 people even harder to stomach.
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The range of ages is also striking. You have 18-year-old students like Nikyra and Kareem alongside a 63-year-old like Terrence. It shows how the crowd on Bourbon Street is such a massive, diverse melting pot of people just looking for a good time.
A Community in Recovery
It’s not just the families of those who died. Over 50 people were injured. Two Israeli citizens were among the wounded, and two New Orleans police officers were shot during the subsequent shootout with the suspect. The trauma in the French Quarter didn't just vanish when the yellow tape came down.
What We Can Do Now
Remembering the new orleans attack victims names is the first step, but there are practical ways people have been supporting the survivors and the legacy of those lost.
First, several families still have memorial funds or GoFundMe pages active to support the children of the victims, particularly for Nicole Perez’s young son and Reggie Hunter’s family. Checking verified platforms for these names can provide direct support.
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Second, the city has significantly overhauled its "Special Events" security protocols. If you are attending large events in New Orleans—like Mardi Gras or future New Year’s celebrations—take a moment to familiarize yourself with the "NOLA Ready" emergency alert system. You can text "MARDIGRAS" (or the relevant event keyword) to 77295 to get real-time safety updates.
Lastly, support the local organizations that provided immediate trauma counseling after the event, such as the New Orleans Family Justice Center. They continue to work with victims of violence across the city. Keeping the memory of these 14 individuals alive isn't just about the tragedy; it's about making sure the city is safer for the next person who just wants to celebrate a new beginning.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify Memorial Funds: Before donating, ensure the fund is verified by local news outlets like WWL-TV or NOLA.com to ensure the money reaches the families.
- Stay Informed: Sign up for NOLA Ready alerts before visiting the French Quarter for major holidays to stay updated on crowd control and security measures.
- Advocate for Safety: Support local initiatives pushing for the permanent installation and consistent use of automated security bollards in high-pedestrian areas.