Fifteen people were killed and 30 were injured after a US Army veteran with an ISIS flag on his truck swerved around makeshift barriers and ploughed into revellers in New Orleans’ crowded French Quarter on New Year’s Day.
While the authorities have not released the names of the victims, at least four of those killed have been identified by family members or other associates.
Nicole Perez
Ms Nicole Perez, 28, had just received a promotion, was moving into a new apartment and was teaching her four-year-old son to read before she was killed on Jan 1 morning, Ms Kimberly Usher, her boss, told Reuters.
Ms Usher, who owns the New Orleans-area deli where Ms Perez worked, recounted that Ms Perez would sometimes take her son to work and play spelling games with him. Ms Usher described Ms Perez as a hard-working mother and a dedicated employee.
“She was just getting a new apartment, so her and her son were about to start their new life,” Ms Usher said. “And now that’s no more.”
Tiger Bech
Mr Tiger Bech, 27, a native of nearby Lafayette, Louisiana, and a Princeton University graduate, was killed on Jan 1 morning, according to Mr Marty Cannon, the principal at the high school Mr Bech attended. Mr Cannon said he found out about Mr Bech’s death through his network of mutual friends and associates.
Mr Cannon described Mr Bech, who played football at Princeton, as an uncommon intellect and athlete.
“I’ve seen a lot of great athletes, but there are things that Tiger could do on the football field that I never saw anyone else do,” Mr Cannon said.
“He was just a guy of tremendous depth as well. He was smart, he was an intellectual, just an impressive guy.”
Mr Bech, who worked in finance in New York, had been in town for the holidays, said Mr Cannon.
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux
Ms Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, an aspiring nurse from Mississippi, was among those killed in the ramming attack, according to the Times-Picayune newspaper.
Ms Dedeaux was set to begin a nursing programme in January at Blue Cliff College and was in New Orleans celebrating the New Year with a cousin and a friend, the newspaper said, citing associates of the victim.
Ms Melissa Dedeaux, who the Times-Picayune identified as Ms Nikyra Dedeaux’s mother, appeared to confirm her daughter’s death in a widely shared Facebook post on Jan 1.
“When your parents say don’t go anywhere please listen to them,” Ms Dedeaux wrote. “My baby is gone, y’all. My baby is gone; she is no longer with us.”
Attempts to contact the older Ms Dedeaux and confirm her relationship to Nikyra Dedeaux on the evening of Jan 1 were not immediately successful.
Reggie Hunter
Mr Reggie Hunter, 37, a father of two from Baton Rouge, was among those killed, the Times-Picayune reported, citing a cousin of the victim.
The newspaper reported that Mr Hunter, a warehouse manager, took pride in the academic achievements of his eldest son, who was of school age, and he enjoyed working out with friends and family.
Independent attempts to contact Mr Hunter’s cousin, Ms Shirell Jackson, were not immediately successful. REUTERS
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Thomas Redner
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