Bourbon Street Attack: What We Know About New Orleans Victims

Three victims among the 15 people killed when a car drove into a crowd in New Orleans Wednesday morning have been identified by family members.

Officials, however, have not yet released the names of the victims.

Why It Matters

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, has been named the suspect in the New Year’s attack on Bourbon Street that killed at least 15 people and injured 30 early Wednesday morning.

The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. A key line of inquiry is whether the attack was orchestrated or inspired by a foreign terrorist group.

What To Know

The attack occurred around 4:15 a.m. EST in the French Quarter, one of New Orleans’ busiest areas, during the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations. The three victims identified so far are Reggie Hunter, Nikyra Dedeaux and Tiger Bech.

Reggie Hunter

Reggie Hunter, 37, had just left work and was heading to his cousin’s home when the attack happened, his first cousin Shirell Jackson told Nola.com. Hunter was killed, and his cousin was injured, according to Jackson.

“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,'” Jackson said. “Just something so simple. ‘Hey cuz, had, wanna ride me to the city?'”

Hunter, a father of two, was born in California and lived in Baton Rouge. He worked as a warehouse manager. Jackson said Hunter was close to his family and loved fashion and working out.

Nikyra Dedeaux

Nikyra “Cheyenne” Dedeaux, 18, had traveled to New Orleans from Gulfport, Mississippi, with her cousin and a friend for the New Year’s celebrations on Bourbon Street.

Her mother, Melissa Dedeaux, who confirmed the teenager’s death to Nola.com, said Dedeaux wasn’t supposed to be in New Orleans. Dedeaux sneaked to her cousin’s home for the excursion. The three and Dedeaux’s friend Zion Parsons were leaving Voodoo Chicken & Daquiris on Bourbon Street when the suspect’s vehicle suddenly appeared, Parsons told the Associated Press.

Dedeaux graduated from Harrison Central High School in Gulfport in 2024. She was set to begin a nursing program at Blue Cliff College in two weeks. Parsons and Dedeaux’s mother both told news outlets that Dedeaux was a positive person who was “never down or grumpy.”

Tiger Bech

Tiger Bech, 27, was also killed in the attack. He was taken to a New Orleans hospital, where he died late Wednesday morning, according to Kim Broussard, the athletic director at St. Thomas More Catholic High School, as reported by Baton Rouge news station WAFB.

She told Nola.com that Bech had suffered internal bleeding.

Bech’s brother, Jack, confirmed his death on X, formerly Twitter: “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.”

Bech, who is from Lafayette, Louisiana, graduated from Princeton in 2021 with a degree in finance and was working in New York as a stockbroker.

While at Princeton, Bech was an All-Ivy League kick returner from 2016 to 2018. He had recorded 53 catches for 825 yards and three touchdowns during his time with the Tigers.

The New Orleans Police Department said the suspect opened fire on officers after the vehicle came to a stop. He was driving a Ford pickup truck, which officials said appeared to be rented.

Officers returned fire, and the suspect was struck, police said in a news release. He was subsequently pronounced dead.

New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the male suspect “was trying to run over as many people as he could.” She said the incident was the result of “intentional behavior.”

An ISIS flag was found in the vehicle, according to the FBI. The bureau is working to determine the suspect’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations. Weapons and a potential IED were also located in the vehicle. Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter, according to a press release from the FBI.

Jabbar was a Houston resident. In 2005, he was charged with driving with a suspended license and in 2002, he was charged with misdemeanor theft, according to records previously reviewed by Newsweek.

He was allegedly staying at an Airbnb, which burned down earlier Wednesday, about a mile and a half away from the attacks.

What People Are Saying

Nikyra Dedeaux’s friend Zion Parsons, to the Associated Press: “Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering…I hadn’t had time to cry up until I called her mother, and she asked me, ‘Where’s my baby.’ That broke me.”

Nikyra Dedeaux’s mother, Melissa Dedeaux, to Nola.com: “I just want to see my baby. She was the sweetest person. She would give you anything, anything.”

Princeton football coach Bob Surace, to ESPN: “[Tiger Bech] was just starting a successful career in the business world…There were two or three times we had career nights, and you could call him with a day’s notice, and he came down and shared his experiences as a young professional with our team.”

What’s Next

The FBI will be the lead agency in the investigation. Anyone with information that can assist is asked to contact the FBI’s New Orleans Bureau by calling (504) 816-3000 or by emailing tips@fbi.gov.

The public is being asked to avoid Bourbon Street north from Canal to Dumaine Street, east to Royal Street, and west to Dauphine Street until further notice.