Authorities have not yet released the names of the 15 people killed in the ram truck attack, but their families and friends have begun sharing their stories.
New Orleans Coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna said the names of the victims will be officially released once autopsies are completed and authorities speak with next of kin. Around 30 people were also injured in the attack.
Until then, here are the victims’ stories that have surfaced so far:
Nikyra Dedeaux
Nikyra Dedeaux, aged 18, dreamed of becoming a nurse. She was attending New Year’s Eve festivities on Bourbon Street with her friend Zion Parsons.
“A truck hit the corner and sped off, throwing people into the air, like a scene from a movie,” Mr. Parsons, also 18, told the Associated Press.
“He hit her and threw her at least nine meters. I’m lucky to be alive.”
As the crowd dispersed in chaos, he began to run. Around him: injured and bloodied victims, gunshots and sounds of explosions.
“Bodies, bodies, all over the street. Everyone was screaming and yelling. People were crying on the ground,” he said.
“It was just crazy. It’s the closest thing to a war zone I’ve ever seen.”
According to Mr. Parsons, Nikyra Dedeaux was a young manager. Even though she was smaller than all of her siblings, she helped take care of everyone. She had a job at a hospital and was about to start college to achieve her goal of becoming a nurse.
Reggie Hunter
Father-of-two Reggie Hunter had just left work and was heading to a New Year’s celebration with a cousin when the attack happened.
The 37-year-old man was ultimately killed when the suspect charged into the crowd.
Tiger Beech
Former football player Tiger Bech, 27, died Wednesday morning in a New Orleans hospital, according to local media.
NOLA.com reported that Tiger Bech played quarterback, punt returner and defensive back during his time at St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, Louisiana.
He also played football while attending Princeton University, where he graduated in 2021. Most recently, he worked as an investment trader at a New York brokerage firm.
In response to a KLFY-TV report posted on X about Tiger Bech’s death, a message from a Jack Bech account read, “I still love you, brother! You inspired me every day, now you can be with me every moment.”
Nicole Perez
Nicole Perez, who was in her 20s, was a single mother of a 4-year-old son who worked hard to make a better life for her family.
She was recently promoted to manager of Kimmy’s Deli in Metarie, Louisiana, and “was really excited about it,” according to restaurant owner Kimberly Usher. Ms. Usher confirmed Nicole Perez’s death through her sister, who also works for her.
According to Ms. Usher, Nicole Perez walked to work in the morning. She asked a lot of questions about the business side of operations. She was also allowed to bring her son, Melo, to work, where, during his breaks, she taught him some basic skills.
“She was a very good mother,” said Ms. Usher, who launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover Nicole Perez’s funeral costs and to help cover expenses for her son, who “he will need to survive.” adapt to a new life.
