Single mother of 4-year-old, aspiring nurse: The victims killed in New Orleans truck attack

An 18-year-old woman with dreams of becoming a nurse.

A single mother to a four-year-old son.

A father of two, known as the “life of the party.”

Many had gathered on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the hope that a new year brings. However, their celebrations were cut short when a Texas man drove his truck into the crowd, killing at least 14 people and injuring many others.

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Authorities have yet to release the identities of the 15 victims of the New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans. However, their loved ones have begun sharing their stories.

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Who were the victims of the New Orleans truck attack?

Nikyra Dedeaux

Eighteen-year-old Nikyra Dedeaux had dreams of becoming a nurse. Her mother, Melissa Dedeaux, confirmed her death on social media.

Melissa, herself a nurse, told media outlet Nola that Nikyra was set to begin her nurse training later this month. Nikyra had snuck out with a cousin and a friend to join the celebrations on Bourbon Street. While her cousin and friend survived, Nikyra did not.

Zion Parsons, Nikyra’s friend, told The Associated Press, “A truck hit the corner and comes barreling through throwing people like in a movie scene, throwing people into the air.”

“It hit her and flung her like at least 30 feet, and I was just lucky to be alive.”

Parsons described Nikyra as a responsible young woman who took care of her siblings. She had been working at a hospital and was about to start college to pursue her dream of becoming a registered nurse.

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Tiger Bech

Tiger Bech, a former Princeton University football player, was also among those killed in the attack, the university confirmed in a statement.

Princeton Football mourns the loss of Tiger Bech ‘21.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all of the victims of the Bourbon Street attack. https://t.co/aLWMyd57lL pic.twitter.com/nUjzXUO3yT

— Princeton Football (@PrincetonFTBL) January 1, 2025

The 27-year-old had returned to Louisiana for the holidays and was planning to fly back to New York on Wednesday morning, CNN reported quoting his sister, Virginia Bech.

He was on his way back to a hotel with his best friend, Ryan Quigley, when the incident occurred.

Bech graduated from Princeton in 2021 after playing football for the university. He had recently started a career as an investment trader at a brokerage firm in New York.

Bech played football at Princeton University before graduating in 2021. Most recently he was working as an investment trader at a New York brokerage firm.

His younger brother, Jack Bech, is a top wide receiver at Texas Christian University.

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Reggie Hunter

Reggie Hunter, 37, was a father of two remembered for his great sense of humour, CNN reported quoting his cousin, Shirell Robinson Jackson.

Hunter leaves behind his 11-year-old and 1-year-old children. “He loved his kids. He loved loved loved his family,” Jackson told CNN.

Notably, Hunter had just finished work and was heading out to celebrate New Year’s Eve with a cousin when the incident took place.

Courtney Hunter, his 33-year-old younger sister, told The New York Times that he loved family gatherings and had a particularly competitive streak when playing games.

Nicole Perez

Nicole Perez, a single mother to a four-year-old son, was working tirelessly to provide a better life for her family when she lost her life, her employer said.

Perez, who was in her late 20s, had recently been promoted to manager at Kimmy’s Deli in Metairie, Louisiana. “She was really excited about it,” the deli’s owner, Kimberly Usher Fall, told the AP in a phone interview. Usher confirmed Perez’s death through her sister, who also works at the deli.

Perez was out celebrating New Year’s Eve with friends when she was struck by the truck, Usher told ABC News. She was taken to University Hospital but succumbed to her injuries.

Usher described Perez as a dedicated employee and a loving mother. “She was just getting a new apartment, so her and her son were about to start their new life,” Usher told Reuters.

“And now that’s no more.”

Billy DiMaio

DiMaio, 25, was described as humble and gentle-hearted, with a deep love for his family. His devotion was so strong that he had a tattoo featuring all his cousins’ names, his parents told NOLA.com.

DiMaio, a New York City-based account executive for the media company Audacy, had travelled to New Orleans to celebrate New Year’s Eve and meet friends who were planning to attend the Sugar Bowl.

His parents, Tracie and Bill DiMaio, residents of Holmdel, New Jersey, confirmed that his friends escaped injury.

Born on Long Island, New York, DiMaio moved with his family to New Jersey during his childhood. He graduated in 2022 from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, where he played on the lacrosse team and earned a master’s degree.

Billy DiMaio, a standout lacrosse player for Holmdel High School (2017) and Chestnut Hill College (2022), was killed in the New Orleans attack on January 1.

He was 25 years old.

The Lacrosse Network sends its deepest condolences to both the DiMaio family, and the entire Holmdel… pic.twitter.com/km2is6oqWa

— TLN 🥍 (@LacrosseNetwork) January 3, 2025

He joined Audacy in 2023.

In a statement, Audacy said, “Beyond his professional achievements, Billy will be fondly remembered for his unwavering work ethic, positive attitude, and kindness.”

“He was a true asset to the Audacy team, and his contributions and presence will be deeply missed.”

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Kareem Badawi

Kareem Badawi, a University of Alabama student, was among those killed in the attack, his father, Belal Badawi, shared in a Facebook post.

A Louisiana native, Badawi graduated from the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge before starting at the University of Alabama this autumn.

In his final text message exchange, Belal wished his son a happy new year. Kareem responded, “Happy New Year baba”.

The youngest of three siblings, Kareem was known for his care and dedication to his family. At the university, he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity.

According to The New York Times, Kareem told his father he chose to attend school in Alabama because he wanted to experience a different state.

Drew Dauphin

Dauphin, 26, was visiting New Orleans from Alabama with his younger brother, Matthew. The two had attended a concert and later went out for pizza.

Just ten minutes before the attack, they had parted ways, according to Becky Devereux, a family friend who spoke to ABC News on their behalf.

Dauphin graduated from Auburn University in 2023.

Message from Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts: pic.twitter.com/evOS1C3ymg

— Auburn University (@AuburnU) January 2, 2025

Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts expressed condolences in a statement: “On behalf of Auburn University, I send my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of 2023 graduate Drew Dauphin who was taken from us in the New Orleans terror attack.”

Dauphin worked as a supplier process engineer at the American Honda Motor Company in Birmingham, Alabama, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Matthew Tenedorio

Matthew Tenedorio’s parents confirmed to NBC News that their 25-year-old son was among the victims.

“He was 25 years old. He was just starting life. He had the job of his dreams,” his mother, Cathy Tenedorio, said.

“It’s just very sad.”

Tenedorio worked as an audiovisual technician at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome stadium. On a GoFundMe page, his family described him as a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend with a “laid-back spirit and infectious laughter.”

The Tenedorios last saw him during a New Year’s Eve dinner before he headed out to Bourbon Street with friends.

His cousins recalled his love for video games, outdoor activities, sports, skateboarding, and his job.

Hubert Gauthreaux

Archbishop Shaw High School officials confirmed that 21-year-old alumnus Hubert Gauthreaux was one of the victims of the attack.

Gauthreaux “was tragically killed in the senseless act of violence that occurred early this morning in the French Quarter. He was 21 years old,” the Catholic boys’ school posted on social media.

Gauthreaux was known for his selflessness and big heart, his sister told The New York Times.

“Just last week, he took a tyre off his car to let his friend borrow it, and he drove around on a spare tyre,” she said, adding that he was the type of person to call for random check-ins and drop everything to help someone in need.

#VantageOnFirstpost: A horrific attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day left 15 people dead and 30 injured when a driver flying an ISIS flag rammed into a crowd. The terrorist, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was killed in a shootout with police. @Palkisu tells you more. pic.twitter.com/dCJl31DrJS

— Firstpost (@firstpost) January 2, 2025

The injured victims

Among those injured were two 19-year-old female college students, Elle Eisele and Steele Idelson, both graduates of Canterbury School in Fort Myers, Florida, according to the school. Eisele is a student at the University of Georgia, while Idelson attends San Diego State University.

Heaven Sensky-Kirsch said that her father, Jeremi Sensky, underwent a 10-hour surgery for injuries that included two broken legs. He was removed from a ventilator on Thursday. Sensky, 51, who works in the family’s tree service business, had travelled from his home in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, to New Orleans to celebrate the New Year.

Ryan Quigley, a former teammate of Bech’s at Princeton University, was with him when the truck struck. Quigley sustained injuries, according to family and friends.

University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce stated on Thursday that one of the university’s students was critically injured in the incident. Boyce did not name the student.

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that at least two Mexican nationals were injured during the New Orleans attack.

Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed that two Israeli citizens were also among the injured.

With inputs from agencies