What we know about the New Orleans truck attack victims killed while ringing in the new year
Driver killed 14 and wounded dozens more in an attack being investigated by FBI as an act of terrorism
Warning: This story contains graphic details of the attack.
An 18-year-old girl dreaming of becoming a nurse, a single mother, a father of two and a former Princeton football star were among those killed in New Orleans when the driver of a white pickup truck sped down Bourbon Street, packed with holiday revellers early Wednesday morning.
Officials have not yet released the names of the 14 people who were killed in the New Year's Day truck attack, but their families and friends have started sharing their stories.
New Orleans coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna said in a statement late Wednesday that they will release the names of the dead once autopsies are complete and they've talked with the next of kin. About 30 people were injured in the attack. Here are the names of some of the victims:
LaTasha Polk
LaTasha Polk, a nursing assistant in her 40s, was the last of the 14 victims killed in the attack to be identified, according to her family, who said the coroner's office confirmed her death on Saturday.
Polk was the mother of a teenage boy. Some relatives gathered at a vigil Saturday evening to light candles in the city and honour the victims.
"Every time you saw her she was smiling," said her cousin Courtney Polk, pressing her hands together in front of her face and holding back tears. "It's hard but we see all the love for her."
"Tasha, she was a loving person, and for her life to be taken away — unimaginable," said her aunt Kim Polk.
Edward Pettifer
Edward Pettifer from west London, England, was confirmed as one of the victims on Saturday by London's Metropolitan Police.
His stepmother, Tiggy Legge-Bourke, also known as Alexandra Pettifer, was the nanny who cared for Prince William and Prince Harry in the 1990s.
William offered his condolences to the Pettifer family. In a statement on social media, the Prince of Wales said he and his wife, Catherine, were "shocked and saddened" by the 31-year-old man's tragic death.
British media reported that King Charles was "deeply saddened" by the death and sent his condolences to Pettifer's family.
Ni'kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux
Zion Parsons of Gulfport, Miss., had been celebrating New Year's Eve on Bourbon Street in the city's French Quarter when a pickup truck appeared and plowed into his friend, Ni'kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 18, who he said had dreamed of becoming a nurse.
"A truck hit the corner and comes barrelling through, throwing people like in a movie scene, throwing people into the air," Parsons, 18, told The Associated Press. "It hit her and flung her like at least 30 feet and I was just lucky to be alive."
The driver steered around a police blockade and slammed into revellers before being shot dead by police during an exchange of gunfire. Parsons described the gruesome aftermath of bleeding and maimed victims, hearing gunshots and explosive sounds.
"Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering," Parsons said. "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."
Dedeaux was a responsible daughter and helped take care of her siblings, Parsons said. Dedeaux also had a job at a hospital and was set to start college and begin working toward her goal of becoming a registered nurse.
"She had her mindset — she didn't have everything figured out but she had the plan laid down," Parsons said.
Brandon Taylor
Brandon Taylor of Harvey, La., was another victim who was killed when the truck careened down Bourbon Street at high speed. He was 43.
Terrence Kennedy
Kennedy, 63, of New Orleans was also killed on Bourbon Street. His family confirmed that he was one of the victims with NBC affiliate WDSU.
His sister told WDSU that Kennedy was very kind, had a big heart and was an avid sports fan. He went by "Terry." His niece told Nola.com that he'd been out for a drink on Bourbon Street to celebrate New Year's Eve, and his family had declared him missing when they still hadn't heard from him the next day.
A family friend at the coroner's office reportedly confirmed Kennedy's death, Nola.com reported.
In a Facebook video posted Thursday, his sister Jacqueline Kennedy tearfully said she had an update to her previous post where she'd asked for prayers because Terry was missing.
"I'm sorry to tell you all that he didn't make it," Jacqueline said. "Please pray for me and my family. Thank you and God bless."
Reggie Hunter
Reggie Hunter, 37, a father of two from Baton Rouge, La., was also among those killed early Wednesday on Bourbon Street in what officials are investigating as an act of terror.
Hunter had just left work and headed to celebrate New Year's with a cousin when the attack happened, his first cousin Shirell Jackson told Nola.com.
Hunter was killed and his cousin was injured, Jackson said.
Martin (Tiger) Bech
A former high school and college football player from Louisiana was another victim who died after the driver of the truck accelerated and slammed into the crowd, according to an education official.
Martin (Tiger) Bech, 27, died late Wednesday morning at a New Orleans hospital, according to local media outlets, citing Kim Broussard, the athletic director at St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, La. Bech attended the high school, where he played wide receiver, quarterback, punt returner and defensive back, Nola.com reported.
Bech's LinkedIn profile said he played football at Princeton University before graduating in 2021. Most recently he was working as an investment trader at a New York brokerage firm.
Princeton football coach Bob Surace said Wednesday that he had been texting with Bech's father, sharing memories of the player, who was a school kick returner and receiver from 2017 to 2019.
"He might be the first Tiger to ever play for us, and that nickname kind of described him as a competitor," Surace told ESPN. The school's nickname is the Tigers. "He was somebody that somehow, like in the key moments, just excelled and was full of energy, full of life," Surace said.
Bech has been working at Seaport Global, where company spokesperson Lisa Lieberman could not confirm his death. But she told The Associated Press that "he was extremely well regarded by everybody who knew him."
Bech's younger brother, Jack, is a top wide receiver at Texas Christian University.
In a response to a KLFY-TV report posted on X about Tiger Bech's death, a post from an account for a Jack Bech on the social media site said: "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."
Nicole Perez
Another victim has been identified as Nicole Perez, 27, the mother of a four-year-old boy from Metairie, La., who had just moved into a new apartment. She had also recently gotten a promotion at work, as manager of a deli in Metairie.
Perez was out with her friends for New Year's Eve when she was struck by the truck driven by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S.-born citizen from Texas. Investigators continue to search for what motivated the U.S. Army veteran, who was flying an ISIS flag from his truck, to plow into the crowd.
"She was a really good mom," said her boss, Kimberly Usher, who started a GoFundMe account to cover Perez's burial costs and to help with expenses for her son that "he will need to transition into a new living situation," the donation request says.
Hubert Gauthreaux
Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, was identified by his former high school, the Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, La., as being among those killed on Bourbon Street.
"It is with great sorrow that we share that alum Hubert Gauthreaux, Class of 2021, was tragically killed in the senseless act of violence that occurred early this morning in the French Quarter," the school said in a statement on Facebook.
"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."
Drew Dauphin
Christopher B. Roberts, president of Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., said on X that 2023 graduate Drew Dauphin died in the New Orleans attack.
"Words cannot convey the sorrow the Auburn Family feels for Drew's family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time," Roberts said. "Our thoughts are with the Dauphin family and the families of all the victims of this senseless tragedy."
Dauphin was a supplier process engineer at the American Honda Motor Company in Birmingham, Ala., according to his LinkedIn profile.
Elliot Wilkinson
Elliot Wilkinson, 40, of Slidell, La., was among the victims who died. His older brother Cecil Wilkinson said in a message on Facebook that Elliot was loved, adding "you will truly be missed."
"I know life was hard for you at times. But I wasn't expecting to get the phone call this morning (that) you was one of them that got hit in New Orleans in the French Quarter," Wilkinson said in the post.
According to CNN, Wilkinson was recently released from prison and was homeless before the attack.
Matthew Tenedorio
The parents of Matthew Tenedorio told NBC News that their son was one of the people killed in the attack.
"He was 25 years old. He was just starting life. He had the job of his dreams," Cathy Tenedorio said. "It's just very sad."
A GoFundMe page created by a cousin says he was an audiovisual technician at the Superdome.
"He was a wonderful kid," Louis Tenedorio added. "He loved people. He loved animals. He always had a smile. So many friends. He had so many friends."
Cathy Tenedorio said she had spent New Year's Eve with Matthew and another one of her sons.
"We had dinner and we did fireworks outside, and just laughing and hugging each other and telling each other we loved each other," she said. She added that they had tried to dissuade him from going into the city.
"They don't think about risk," she said.
Billy DiMaio
Billy DiMaio, 25, was so devoted to family that he had a tattoo featuring all of his cousins' names, his parents told NOLA.com.
A New York City-based account executive for the media company Audacy, DiMaio was in New Orleans to celebrate New Year's Eve and see friends who planned to go to the Sugar Bowl, Tracie and Bill DiMaio, of Holmdel, N.J., told the news site. His friends escaped injury.
"He was a good, humble kid," Bill DiMaio said. "He loved life."
Billy DiMaio grew up on Long Island, N.Y., before the family moved to New Jersey. He graduated in 2022 from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, where he was on the lacrosse team and earned a master's degree.
"He was a pure, gentle-hearted soul," his mother said. "He will be truly missed."
He had worked for Audacy since 2023.
"Beyond his professional achievements, Billy will be fondly remembered for his unwavering work ethic, positive attitude, and kindness," Audacy said in an emailed statement. "He was a true asset to the Audacy team, and his contributions and presence will be deeply missed."
Kareem Badawi
University of Alabama freshman Kareem Badawi was among those killed in the attack. A native of Louisiana and a graduate of the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, Badawi had started at the Alabama university this fall.
"It is with great sadness and grief, and with hearts satisfied with Allah's decision and destiny, I announce the death of my son ... who died early today in the morning as a result of a tragic accident in New Orleans," his father, Belal Badawi, posted on Facebook. "We ask Allah Almighty to shower his mercy on him, and give us patience and strength."
His father had posted in May celebrating his son's high school graduation and plans to attend the University of Alabama.
The university issued a statement confirming Badawi's death.
"I grieve alongside family and friends of Kareem in their heartbreaking loss," University of Alabama president Stuart R. Bell said.
With files from CBC News