New Orleans victims: What we know about the people killed in Bourbon Street terror attack

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At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured after a 42-year-old man plowed a truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans’ Bourbon Street in what the FBI is investigating as an “act of terrorism.”

The FBI later identified the suspect – who was killed after engaging in a shootout with police officers – as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US-born citizen from Texas.

The bureau will lead the investigation and is working with law enforcement partners “to investigate this as an act of terrorism,” after an ISIS flag, weapons and a potential improvised explosive device (IED) were found inside the vehicle.

Meanwhile, the Sugar Bowl has been postponed until Thursday night.

At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured after a 42-year-old man plowed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans in the early hours of New Year’s Day (EPA)

During a Wednesday afternoon press conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said that the “Greater New Orleans Foundation has set up a fund to assist victims,” and the city was taking “every necessary step to put even more safety procedures in place, especially given the nature of the investigation.”

Here’s what we know about them so far:

Tiger Bech

Bech, a former Princeton football player, was taken to a New Orleans hospital with critical injuries from the attack before dying on Wednesday. He was reportedly kept on life support until his family could arrive.

The 28-year-old wide receiver was an All-Ivy League performer, having played high school football at St. Thomas More Catholic High School (STM) in Lafayette, Louisiana before earning a scholarship to the Ivy League’s Princeton, according to CBS Sports.

Bech twice earned All-Ivy League honors as a return specialist and caught 53 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns in his career. At STM he also also lettered in lacrosse and track, leading the lacrosse team to a state title and reaching three state semifinals.

After graduating from Princeton in 2021, he worked as a trader at Seaport Global, a New York brokerage firm.

His death was confirmed by St. Thomas More Catholic High School athletic director, Kim Broussard.

Bech’s younger brother, Jack Bech began his own football career at LSU before transferring to TCU, and has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft in December. After news of his brother’s death was reported, the younger Bech wrote on X: “Love you always brother!

“You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us.”

Reggie Hunter

Hunter, a 37-year-old Baton Rouge father of two, was among the 10 victims who perished on Wednesday morning.

His family told The Times-Picayune “had gotten off work and headed to Bourbon Street on a whim to ring in the new year with a cousin.”

The attack took place on New Orlean’s famous Borubon Street, in the city’s French District (Getty Images)

"They decided to go out there because he came in from work and said, ‘Hey, the Sugar Bowl is tomorrow. It’s New Year’s Eve. Let’s go to the city," Hunter’s first cousin Shirell Jackson said. "Just something so simple. Hey cuz, had, wanna ride me to the city?"

Jackson said that Hunter and his cousin were both hit by the truck. While Hunter perished, the cousin was among the 35 injured who were taken to local hospitals.

According to his family, Hunter took pride in his 18-month-son and 12-year-old son’s STEM academics, adding that he loved to work out. “He wanted to be in the gym with his homeboys and cousins,” Jackson said. “And he said, ‘I'm getting swole. I said, ‘Where? You are so little.’”

Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux

Dedeaux, 18, traveled to New Orleans from Gulfport with her cousin and friend to celebrate the New Year on Bourbon Street, her family told The SunHerald.

“I just want to see my baby,” her mother Melissa Dedeaux, 40, grieved. “She was the sweetest person. She would give you anything, anything.”

Cheyenne, as he was known to family and friends, wasn’t supposed to be down in the city and snuck out, her mother said. Cheyenne’s friend Zion Parsons told the paper that their group was leaving Voodoo Chicken & Daquiris when “out of nowhere” he heard “commotion” and “banging.”

The FBI is leading the investigation into the ‘terrorism’ incident, after an ISIS flag, weapons and a potential improvised explosive device (IED) were found inside the vehicle (AP)

With gunfire ringing, Cheyenne ran into the street and into the path of the “barreling truck,” suffering critical injuries.

While the Orleans Parish Coroner's Office has not officially confirmed her daughter’s death, Melissa said she knows Cheyenne had passed. "As a mother, when my niece and [Parsons] said they covered her with a sheet, I just knew that was it for my daughter," she said.

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