New Orleans attack: Teenage girl and graduate of Princeton University among first victims named

A teenage girl who wanted to be a nurse and a graduate of Princeton University are among the first victims of the suspected terror attack in New Orleans to be named.

Officials have not yet released the names of the 15 people killed after a man drove a pick-up truck into crowds on New Year’s Day but some of their loved ones have started sharing their stories.

Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, died after being struck by the vehicle while celebrating the start of 2025 with her friend Zion Parsons.

Mr Parsons, also 18, has said Ms Dedeaux dreamed of becoming a nurse.

He said: “A truck hit the corner and comes barrelling 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.”

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Meanwhile, Martin “Tiger” Bech was on Bourbon Street when the truck hit him, his mother told Sky News’ US partner network NBC News.

Michelle Bech added that she was able to say goodbye to her son before he died in hospital.

Mr Bech, a graduate of Princeton University, lived in New York City where he was a junior bond trader for a Wall Street Company.

His brother Jack posted on X: “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.”

It comes as Matthew Tenedorio, 25, was killed after he was shot dead by the attacker who got out of the truck and opened fire after ploughing into crowds, his mother has said.

Cathy Tenedorio, from Carriere in Mississippi, said she had dinner with her son on New Year’s Eve.

She told Sky News: “Matthew and his friends all decided to go into The Quarter. We tried to talk him out of it.

“They were walking down Bourbon Street at around 3:15am when everything happened right in front of them.

“The truck crashed into a construction lift. The man jumped out and started firing the gun.

“My son was killed instantly… I just hugged and kissed him last night. Told him I loved him. He had so much hope, a great future working at the Super Dome stadium in New Orleans. He had the job of his dreams.”

Nicole Perez, a single mother to a four-year-old son, was also among those killed in the attack.

Ms Perez, who was in her late 20s, had recently been promoted to manager in her job at deli and was “really excited about it”, her employer Kimberly Usher has said.

Ms Perez would bring her son, Melo, to work and teach him basic learning skills during her breaks.

“She was a really good mom,” said Ms Usher, who started a GoFundMe account to cover Ms Perez’s burial costs.

Read more:
What more do we know about suspect?
New Orleans eyewitnesses describe carnage
New Year’s carnage haunts New Orleans – but ‘Big Easy’ has suffered before

The fifth victim to be named is Reggie Hunter, 37, from Baton Rouge in Louisiana.

His cousin, Shirell Jackson, told NBC News the warehouse manager was an “awesome person” and “a little-bitty guy” with a “big heart.”

He had been with another cousin who survived the attack, she said.

ISIS flag recovered from truck

The suspected terror attacker who killed at least 15 people in New Orleans has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabba, who was born and raised in the US.

Jabbar drove a pick-up truck around barriers and ploughed into a crowd celebrating the New Year early on Wednesday.

Dozens were also injured in what the FBI is treating as terrorism after an Islamic State (ISIS) flag was found on the back of the vehicle.

The attack happened around 3.15am on the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Streets in the city’s French Quarter, an area popular with tourists.

Jabbar died in a shoot-out with police.