Auburn graduate, Alabama student among those killed in New Orleans truck attack

On January 1, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded in New Orleans’ French Quarter when a white pickup truck plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street, resulting in 15 fatalities and injuring approximately 30 others. The driver, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran, was killed in a subsequent shootout with police. An ISIS flag was found in his vehicle, leading authorities to treat the incident as an act of terrorism.

Among the victims were individuals with ties to Alabama:

Kareem Badawi

Kareem Badawi, a freshman at the University of Alabama, was among those who lost their lives. A native of Louisiana and a graduate of the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, Badawi had begun his engineering studies at Alabama in the fall of 2024. He was back home for winter break and had traveled to New Orleans with friends to celebrate the New Year. His father, Belal Badawi, expressed profound grief, stating, “He is a lovely boy. I lost my son. He’s a good boy.”

Drew Dauphin

Another victim was 26-year-old Drew Dauphin, a Montgomery native and 2023 graduate of Auburn University. Dauphin earned an engineering degree from Auburn and was employed as a supplier process engineer at American Honda Motor Company in Birmingham. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed remarked, “As a city, we grieve alongside [the Dauphin family] and with all who knew and loved Drew.”

Other Victims

The attack claimed the lives of several other individuals, each remembered for their unique contributions and aspirations:

• Nicole Perez, 28, a single mother and deli manager, known for her dedication to her son and her work.
• Martin “Tiger” Bech, 27, a former Princeton University football player and investment trader, visiting family during the holidays.
• Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 18, an aspiring nursing student, celebrating the New Year with family.
• Reggie Hunter, 37, a father of two from Baton Rouge, involved in his children’s lives and education.
• Matthew Tenedorio, 25, an audiovisual technician at Caesars Superdome, known for his warm personality.
• Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, a recent high school graduate from New Orleans.

This senseless act of violence has left families and communities in deep mourning, highlighting the profound loss experienced by those who knew and loved the victims.

Authorities continue to investigate the motives behind the attack and are exploring potential connections to other incidents involving U.S. Army veterans. The New Orleans community, along with the nation, stands united in grief and in the pursuit of justice for the victims of this tragedy.