(NewsNation) — Investigation continues into what authorities are calling a New Year’s Day “act of terrorism” in New Orleans’ bustling Canal and Bourbon Streets in which a car drove into a crowd, killing 14 people and injuring at least 35 more.
Officials said that as of Thursday morning, all of the victims have been identified, and their families have been notified by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
New Orleans attack suspect
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, has been identified as the man who was shot and killed by police after the deadly New Year’s Day attack. In a Wednesday news conference, agency officials said they do not believe Jabbar acted alone, but the FBI later said there is no evidence anyone aided Jabbar in carrying out the attack.
New Orleans attack victims
Tiger Bech
Tiger Bech, 28, died in a hospital following the attack, NewsNation local affiliate KLFY confirmed.
He was reportedly kept on life support until his family could arrive, according to Kim Broussard, the athletic director at his former school, St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, Louisiana.
A Princeton graduate, Bech worked at New York brokerage firm Seaport Global, according to his LinkedIn page.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all of the victims of the Bourbon Street attack,” Princeton Football shared on X.
Bob Surace, Princeton’s head football coach, said in a statement that Bech was a “tiger” in every way, calling him a “ferocious competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend.”
“Our last conversation was about how proud I was of the growth he showed during his time at Princeton and the success he was having after graduation,” Surace said. “My love goes to the entire Bech family.”
Nikyra Dedeaux
Zion Parsons, a friend of 18-year-old Nikyra Dedeaux, said she was hit by the car, which “flung her at least 30 feet,” he told The Associated Press.
Parsons, from Gulfport, Mississippi, had been celebrating New Year’s Eve on his first night on Bourbon Street when a vehicle appeared and plowed into his friend, who he said had dreamed of becoming a nurse.
“People crying on the floor, like brain matter all over the ground. It was just insane, like the closest thing to a war zone that I’ve ever seen,” Parsons told the AP.
Dedeaux worked at a hospital and had plans to start college soon.
Reggie Hunter
Baton Rouge native Reggie Hunter was among those killed in the attack, his cousin Shirell Jackson told NewsNation.
“He was loved by many. Excellent father, very supportive brother, supportive son, life of the party, great sense of humor, the one that made everybody laugh,” Jackson said.
Jackson tells NewsNation it’s “unfair and unjust” for Hunter’s life to be taken so early. She first found out he’d been hurt from her cousin, Travis Hunter, who joined “NewsNation Live” to discuss the tragedy.
“We had heard that he was shot. That’s what we were going on. So I’m praying that, you know, maybe they’re doing surgery … that’s when the doctors informed us that he succumbed to his internal injuries and that he was deceased,” Jackson said.
Hunter died from injuries sustained when he was run over, not by gunshot wounds, Jackson said. She later confirmed she identified Reggie Hunter at the hospital.
At the hospital, Jackson witnessed multiple families receiving similar news about their loved ones who were killed or injured in the attack.
Nicole Perez
Nicole Perez, in her late 20s, was a single mother of a 4-year-old son and a manager at Kimmy’s Deli in Metairie, Louisiana, her employer told the AP.
Kimberly Usher, Perez’s manager, said she was “really excited” about her recent promotion. She confirmed her death through her sister, who also works there.
“She was so beautiful and full of life,” Usher said about Perez in a GoFundMe page.
Matthew Tenedorio
Victim Matthew Tenedorio was “tragically shot and killed in the devastating terrorist attack in New Orleans,” a GoFundMe page verified to NewsNation says.
“Matthew was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend whose laid-back spirit and infectious laughter brought joy to everyone around him,” the description reads.
His parents, Cathy and Louis Tenedorio, told NewsNation they only found out their son had been killed by going to the morgue and asking around.
The pair had to show a picture of their son so the morgue could confirm that Matthew Tenedorio was in fact dead.
“We heard the cries of mothers and fathers and family at University Medical just hearing the news that their loved [was dead], just like mine,” Cathy Tenedorio said. “You know, my son was just a wonderful, loving, happy, always happy light up the room guy.”
“He had so many friends,” Louis Tenedorio added.
According to his parents, Matthew Tenedorio was an audiovisual technician for the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, which was “his dream job.”
Kareem Bilal Badawi
University of Alabama student Kareem Bilal Badawi was killed in the attack, the college’s president, Stuart Bell, wrote on Facebook. Badawi’s death was also announced by the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge Squires Club. He graduated from the Louisiana school in 2024.
“I grieve alongside family and friends of Kareem in their heartbreaking loss,” Bell said. “Please take a moment to pray for those impacted by this tragedy.”
After coming home to Baton Rouge for winter break, Badawi went to New Orleans to celebrate the new year, his father, Belal Badawi told the Associated Press.
“He is a lovely boy. I lost my son. He’s a good boy,” he said of his son. “Unfortunately, his life ended that quick and with no reason. Just nothing he did to deserve for somebody to come and kill him.”
Hubert Gauthreaux
According to a post made by Archbishop Shaw High School, Hubert Gauthreaux, class of 2021, was one of the people who died.
“We are asking the entire Archbishop Shaw family to pray for the repose of Hubert’s soul, his family and friends during this difficult time, and all those affected by this tragedy,” the school said.
Drew Dauphin
Auburn University said on X that 2023 graduate Drew Dauphin died in the attack.
“Words cannot convey the sorrow the Auburn Family feels for Drew’s family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” university president Christopher B. Roberts said.
Billy DiMaio
Billy DeMaio is being remembered as humble and gentle-hearted by family after dying after the New Orleans attack.
His parents said in an interview with NOLA.com that he had a tattoo featuring his cousins’ names.
DeMaio was a New York City-based account executive for the media company Audacy.
“He was a good, humble kid,” Bill DiMaio, his father, said to NOLA. “He loved life.”
Edward Pettifer
British national Edward Pettifer, 31, has been identified as one of 14 people killed in the attack.
“The entire family are devastated at the tragic news of Ed‘s death in New Orleans. He was a wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew and a friend to so many,” his family said in a statement.
“We will all miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with the other families who have lost their family members due to this terrible attack. We request that we can grieve the loss of Ed as a family in private. Thank you.”
Pettifer was the stepson of Tiggy Legge-Bourke, who was the nanny for both Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry, between 1993 and 1999, the Associated Press confirmed.
“Catherine and I have been shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Ed Pettifer,” Prince William wrote on social platform X.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pettifer family and all those innocent people who have been tragically impacted by this horrific attack,” he added.
Tasha Polk
Tasha Polk, a nursing assistant and mother of a teenage boy, was the last victim to be identified, according to the Associated Press.
Polk’s family gathered at a vigil Saturday evening after the coroner’s office informed them of her death Saturday morning.
“It was the wrong call we got, but at least we got the call,” said Tasha Polk’s cousin, Sebastian Polk, to the AP.
Her family had been looking for her before receiving the news.
“Every time you saw her she was smiling,” said her cousin Courtney Polk. “It’s hard but we see all the love for her.”
NewsNation’s Sarah Ruth, Paula Malatesta, Sean Noone, Caitlyn Shelton, Jeff Arnold, Ashley Soriano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story is developing. Refresh for updates.