New Orleans attack: Teenage girl and graduate of Princeton University among victims
A teenage girl who aspired to be a nurse and a graduate of Princeton University are among the first victims of the attack in New Orleans to be named.
Officials have not yet released the names of the 14 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.
The suspect has been identified by the FBI as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabba, who was born and raised in the US.
The bureau is treating the attack as terrorism after an Islamic State (IS) flag was found on the back of the vehicle Jabba was driving. He was later killed in a shoot-out with police.
Here are the victims who have been named so far by their loved ones.
Ni’Kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux
Ni’Kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux. Pic: NOLA, city of New Orleans
Ni’Kyra Cheyenne 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.
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New Orleans suspect ‘says hello’ on old promo vid
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.”
Martin ‘Tiger’ Bech
Tiger Bech. Pic: Family
Tiger Bech, a 27-year-old Princeton University graduate, lived in New York City, where he was a junior bond trader for a Wall Street company.
His brother, Jack Bech, told Sky’s US correspondent James Matthews: “The last thing we ever said to each other, he told me he loved me.
“I told him I love him, he told me he loved me even more, hung up the phone – and that was the last words I ever spoke to him.”
Tiger Bech (left) and Jack Bech (right). Pic: Jack Bech
Mr Bech said his brother was his best friend and role model.
“He was loved by so many people. He always made time for the little guy. He was special,” he said.
His family managed to see him while he was unconscious in hospital but still alive, time that Mr Bech said was precious to them.
“He couldn’t respond to any of us, but I truly believe he could hear us, his eyes were closed.”
Head coach of the Princeton Tigers, the team Tiger Bech played for, described him as a “tiger in every way”.
“There was no more appropriate nickname of a Princeton player I coached,” Bob Surace said.
“He was a ‘Tiger’ in every way – a ferocious competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend. Our last conversation was about how proud I was of the growth he showed during his time at Princeton and the success he was having after graduation.”
Analysis: IS flag stark reminder extremist ideology never went away
Matthew Tenedorio
Matthew Tenedorio
Matthew Tenedorio, 25, was shot dead by the attacker after he got out of the vehicle and opened fire after ploughing into crowds, his mother 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.”
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Moment police react to news of attack
The New Orleans Saints confirmed Mr Tenedorio was a video producer who helped make content for both the NFL team and the New Orleans Pelicans basketball team.
“We remain heartbroken by the tragic events that claimed innocent lives in our city yesterday,” the Saints wrote on their official X page.
“Among those lost was Matthew Tenedorio, a valued member of the ASM New Orleans video production team.
“Matthew was young, talented and had a bright future.
“Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with the Tenedrio family and everyone affected by this senseless act of terrorism.”
Nicole Perez
Nicole Perez
Single mother Nicole Perez was also among those killed in the attack.
Ms Perez, who was in her late 20s, had a four-year-old son.
She had recently been promoted to manager in her job 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 mum,” 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
Reggie Hunter
Reggie Hunter
Another victim that has been named is father-of-two Reggie Hunter from Baton Rouge in Louisiana.
His cousin, Shirell Jackson, told NBC News the 37-year-old 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.
Hubert Gauthreaux
Hubert Gauthreaux. Pic: NOLA, city of New Orleans
Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, was identified as being among those killed in the attack by his former high school.
In a statement, the Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, Louisiana, said: “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.
“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.”
Kareem Badawi
Kareem Badawi. Pic: Facebook/Belal Badawi
University of Alabama student Kareem Badawi was also one of the victims.
President of the university, Stuart R Bell said in a statement posted on Facebook that he grieves alongside Ms Badawi’s family and friends in their “heartbreaking loss”.
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What we know about the New Orleans attack
“Our staff have been actively engaged in supportive outreach and the office of student care and wellbeing is available,” he said.
“Please take a moment to pray for those impacted by this tragedy.”
Drew Dauphin
Drew Dauphin. Pic:@AuburnU/ X
Posting on its X account, Alabama’s Auburn University said 2023 graduate Drew Dauphin “was taken from us in the New Orleans terror attack”.
“Words cannot convey the sorrow the Auburn Family feels for Drew’s family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” said university president Christopher B Roberts.
Billy DiMaio
Billy DiMaio
Long Island native Billy DiMaio, 25, was in Louisiana to celebrate new year with his friends when the terror attack happened.
His parents, Bill and Tracie DiMaio, told The Times-Picayune and The New Orleans Advocate newspaper that their son was a “good, humble kid” who “loved life”.
He worked for US broadcasting company Audacy Inc, which said in a statement that it was “heartbroken” about his death, the newspaper reported.
“Beyond his professional achievements, Billy will be fondly remembered for his unwavering work ethic, positive attitude, and kindness. He was a true asset to the Audacy team, and his contributions and presence will be deeply missed,” the company said.
The oldest of three children, Mr DiMaio was close with his brother and sister and considered his father his best friend. He also had a tattoo featuring all of his cousins’ names, the newspaper reported.
He graduated from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia in 2022, where he captained the championship lacrosse team.
The college said in a statement it is reflecting on the “positive impact he had upon so many in our close community”.
Terrence Kennedy
Terrence Kennedy
The family of Terrence Kennedy confirmed he was one of the victims of the New Orleans attack to NBC.
The 63-year-old was born and raised in the city and is remembered for his kindness and his big heart, his family told NBC affiliate WDSU.
His sister Jacqueline Kennedy said in a tearful video on Facebook that while she had asked for prayers after her brother who was on Bourbon Street and was missing, she had to confirm he was dead.
“I’m sorry to have to tell you all that he didn’t make it,” she said. The post was titled: “My brother Terry Is Gone.”
Experts have described engravings left on ammunition at the scene of the Charlie Kirk shooting as “extremely online” – so what do the words and symbols actually mean?
Authorities said on Friday that the suspect accused of fatally shooting the Conservative activist left behind bullet casings featuring references to fascism, video games and internet memes.
Kirk at Utah Valley University where he was shot. Pic: Reuters/The Salt Lake Tribune
To those who aren’t chronically online, the messages may appear to be total gibberish. But for others, specifically gamers, many of the meanings will have immediately been clear.
Here’s what each of the casings reference – and why experts have cautioned against using them to make assumptions about the suspect’s political leanings.
1. ‘notices, bulges, OWO, what’s this?’
This writing appears to reference a meme about the furry subculture, which centres on an interest in anthropomorphic animal characters.
Within the furry community, OwO is an emoticon of a cute face (with the Os as the eyes and the w as a cute mouth or nose) and used as a way of flirting – but outside the community, it is often used in a mocking way, or as part of trolling.
It’s incredibly common for phrases used by people who are “extremely online” – which essentially means highly engaged in online culture – to have double or multiple meanings.
For this reason, experts have cautioned against trying to interpret messages such as these engravings to determine an attacker’s political leanings or motive.
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What we know about the shooting arrest
Jamie Cohen, an assistant professor of media studies who studies memes at Queens College in New York, said: “Oftentimes this extremely online disguise is meant to be doublespeak.”
Speaking to Sky News’ US partner NBC News, he continued: “It’s meant specifically for someone like me to dive into what they would call meme culture and declare them something so that they get more press.
“So it could just be another bait and switch for researchers who are falling into the same trap that they are designing for more viral exposure.”
2. ‘Hey, fascist! Catch ↑ → ↓↓↓’
When asked by Sky News’ US correspondent James Matthews what the messages on the casings meant, Utah governor Spencer Cox said the writing referring to a fascist “speaks for itself”.
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Engraving on bullet casing ‘speaks for itself’
The second half of the inscription – the directional arrows – were immediately identified by some gamers.
Helldivers 2 players have pointed out that the arrow sequence is the code used to summon a 500kg bomb in the 2024 game – which itself has been interpreted as a satire of fascism.
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3. ‘Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao’
Bella Ciao is a classic Italian song that became a popular anti-fascism anthem during Benito Mussolini’s dictatorship.
It has won renewed popularity in recent years thanks, in part, to featuring multiple times in Netflix’s Spanish television series Money Heist.
A popular remix of Bella Ciao has hit more than 260 million streams on Spotify worldwide and it’s become a favourite on TikTok, as well as within the gaming community.
Read more:
All we know about the suspected assassin
The string of bloody political violence in the MAGA era
4. ‘If you read this, you are gay lmao’
This juvenile insult, using the well-known abbreviation for ‘laughing my ass off’, is a common ‘gotcha’ phrase and simply appears to mock investigators.
The messages, another expert has said, make one thing clear – the suspect was likely seeking fame.
Lindsay Hahn, a University at Buffalo associate professor who researches ideological extremism and the ways in which perpetrators of violence justify their actions, said the messages do not necessarily indicate a specific ideology.
“But what they do indicate, is that the shooter wanted to get a message across and therefore be talked about online,” she told NBC.
“It sort of seems like these messages, at the very minimum, were selected because he knew they were going to be talked about.”
US
Charlie Kirk’s widow pays tribute to ‘perfect’ husband and says her cries ‘will echo around the world’
Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, described him as a “perfect” husband and father, and said the “evildoers” who assassinated him have no idea what they have unleashed.
“You have no idea of the fire that you have ignited within this wife, the cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry,” she said on Friday in her first public remarks since the assassination.
“If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea, you have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country and this world, you have no idea.”
Erika Kirk speaks following her husband’s assassination. Pic: Turning Point USA
Mrs Kirk addressed the public after a silent prayer from the studio where her husband recorded his podcast.
She thanked President Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance and his “phenomenal” wife, Usha, for the support, and praised the emergency teams who tried to save her husband’s life.
“Charlie said if he ever ran for office, his top priority would be to revive the American family. That was his priority,” Mrs Kirk said.
“But most of all, Charlie loved his children. And he loved me. With all his heart. And he made sure I knew that every day,” she said.
She called him a “perfect” father and husband, as she held back tears. She also talked about some of his favourite hobbies.
Read more:
Charlie Kirk suspect arrested after tip-off from father
All we know about the suspect
Vice president JD Vance, his wife Usha, and Erika Kirk exit Air Force Two together. Pic: Reuters
Mrs Kirk said the campus tour that his organisation, Turning Point USA, had started will continue – and urged young people to join her late husband’s political movement.
“I promise I will never let your legacy die,” she said, addressing her husband, vowing to make his movement the “biggest thing this nation has ever seen”.
Mrs Kirk says she doesn’t remember the last time she slept, and shared a story about their daughter when she ran into her arms and asked: “Where’s daddy?”
“What do you tell a three-year-old?”
Mrs Kirk finished her remarks, speaking directly to her husband: “I can’t wait to see you again one day.”
“God bless you all, and may God bless America,” she said as she wrapped up her speech.
US officials have confirmed the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk has been arrested and identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Utah governor Spencer Cox started a news conference with the phrase “we got him”, adding that a member of Robinson’s family alerted authorities. It has been widely reported that Robinson’s father had turned him in.
The details broadly match information released by US President Donald Trump earlier on Fox News.
Explainer: All we know about the suspect
Mr Kirk, 31, a Trump supporter and right-wing influencer, was fatally shot in the neck on Wednesday afternoon while speaking to university students at an event in Utah.
Two people were previously arrested and then released, with officials saying they were only persons of interest.
Tyler Robinson. Pic: Utah Governor’s Office
FBI director Kash Patel, who also spoke at the news conference, confirmed the suspect was taken into custody on Thursday at 10pm local time (5am UK time).
He praised Mr Cox and Mr Trump for their support and finished with a message for Charlie Kirk: “To my friend Charlie Kirk. Rest now, brother. We have the watch and I’ll see you in Valhalla.”
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Utah Governor: ‘We got him’
Robinson believed Kirk was ‘full of hate’
Mr Cox described how messages between Tyler Robinson and his roommate revealed information about the alleged plot including details about a rifle, matching the description of the weapon recovered after the shooting.
Bullets with messages inscribed on the casings were also discovered with the rifle, including “Hey fascist! Catch!” and “If you read this, you are gay, LMAO”.
Explainer: How Charlie Kirk was killed
Mr Cox said a family member told officials that Robinson “had become more political in recent years” and had criticised Charlie Kirk, adding that Robinson said Mr Kirk was “full of hate and spreading hate”.
Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk
Robinson ‘confessed’ to killing
Utah’s governor said a family member reached out to a friend, who contacted authorities on Thursday with information that Robinson had confessed or implied that he carried out the shooting.
Sky’s US partner network NBC News reports the family member was Robinson’s father, who went to a church minister, who then contacted a local sheriff.
Mr Cox said he thought Robinson acted alone and there was no evidence anyone else was involved, but did not speculate on a potential motive. He added that Robinson had been living for a long time with his family in Washington County, in southwest Utah.
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Neighbour: He was ‘smart’ and ‘quiet’
Kristin Schwiermann, a neighbour of the suspect’s family, said he was “smart”, “quiet” and “never caused any problems”.
“I am shocked, very shocked,” she said. “I feel for his mom. She’s a great mom, and he has a great dad.”
At the time of the shooting, Robinson was a third-year student on the electrical apprenticeship programme at Dixie Technical College in Utah.
He previously earned a four-year scholarship to Utah State University, but left after one semester in 2021.
Robinson did not appear to have any criminal history, according to state records. He was a registered voter but was
not affiliated with a political party, according to voter records.
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Shooting suspect ‘never caused any problems’
Mr Kirk was the president and co-founder of Turning Point USA, a prominent organisation that engages conservative youth on school campuses.
Read more: Who was Charlie Kirk?
The father of two, who had millions of followers across social media, appeared at Utah Valley University on Wednesday as part of a planned tour of US college campuses.
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‘Person of interest’ pictured
Vigil for Kirk held in London
A vigil for Mr Kirk was held at the Montgomery Statue in Whitehall, in central London, on Friday night.
The sombre event was organised by Turning Point UK, the British branch of Kirk’s right-wing youth political organisation.
“Charlie Kirk laid his life down for young people,” said Maisey.
While Jade, wearing a Make America Great Again hat with “RIP Charlie Kirk” written on it, said: “I was very, very sad when I heard the news. I didn’t agree with everything he said but that’s OK! I’m just sad I never got to meet him.”
A vigil for Charlie Kirk was held in Whitehall, central London, on Friday
Turning Point UK’s chief executive Jack Ross told the crowd: “Charlie Kirk has a fantastic legacy and he did so much to shape politics in the West. He stood up for free speech, he stood up for what’s right and we demand justice.
“Charlie was not killed because he talked. He was killed because people listened.”
Jade, attending the vigil, told us she was a huge fan of Charlie Kirk
Charges expected next week
Robinson is due to make an initial court appearance next Tuesday, when he is also expected to be charged, the Utah County attorney’s office said.
He is being held without bail after being arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm and obstruction of justice charges, according to a court affidavit.
‘Big breakthrough’, says Vance
Mr Kirk’s body was flown back from Salt Lake City to his home state of Arizona on Air Force Two on Thursday, with the US vice president and close friend JD Vance on board.
On Friday, Mr Vance posted on X that the arrest was a “big breakthrough”. He added: “We took a big step this morning in getting justice for Charlie, and for his family.”
Mr Trump said he plans to attend Mr Kirk’s funeral, although no date has yet been set.
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