New Orleans has always been a city of echoes—music bouncing off humid alleyways, the clatter of streetcars, and the low hum of the Mississippi. But lately, the air feels different. It’s heavy. When people search for new orleans victims names, they aren’t just looking for a list on a government PDF. They are usually looking for the people we lost on New Year’s Day, 2025, when a senseless act of violence turned Bourbon Street from a place of celebration into a crime scene that the city is still, honestly, struggling to process.
It happened at 3:15 a.m. A pickup truck, driven by a man named Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, tore through the crowd. Fourteen people didn't make it home.
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The Names Behind the Headlines
When you see a number like "14," it feels clinical. It feels like a statistic. But these were people with apartments, favorite poboy shops, and families waiting for a text that never came.
Kareem Badawi was only 18. He was a freshman at the University of Alabama, a kid who had just graduated from high school in Baton Rouge and had his whole life mapped out. He’d just joined a fraternity. He was supposed to be back in Tuscaloosa for the spring semester.
Then there was Martin “Tiger” Bech. He was 27 and living the dream in New York City, working at a brokerage firm. He was a former Princeton football player—a "tiger" in every sense, according to his coaches. He was just back home for the weekend to go hunting and fishing with his buddies.
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux was just 18, too. She was from Gulfport, just across the state line. Her mom actually begged her not to go to Bourbon Street that night. Nikyra wanted to be a nurse; she had already landed a job at a hospital and was starting her program later that month. There’s a video of her from that night, just minutes before the truck hit, smiling and petting a police horse. It’s haunting.
A Community in Mourning
The diversity of the victims tells you everything you need to know about New Orleans. It’s a magnet for everyone.
- Edward Pettifer, 31, was a British citizen from London. He was the stepson of the former nanny to Princes William and Harry. He was just there to see the city.
- Nicole Perez, 27, was a single mother. She had a 4-year-old son. She was working her tail off to build a better life for him, and she was just out for a rare night of celebration.
- Terrence Kennedy was 63. A local. A New Orleanian through and through.
Reggie Hunter, 37, was a father of two from Prairieville. He was on the street with his cousin, just trying to catch the New Year’s vibe. Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, was a Marrero native who lived for baseball.
The list continues with Drew Dauphin (26), Billy DiMaio (25), Matthew Tenedorio (25), Brandon Taylor (43), Elliot Wilkinson (40), and LaTasha Polk (47).
Why This Hit So Hard
New Orleans is used to tragedy. We’ve had hurricanes that swallowed neighborhoods and crime rates that made national news. But this felt different because it was a targeted attack on the city's spirit.
Honestly, the city had been doing better. By the end of 2025, the homicide rate was actually at its lowest level in 50 years. District Attorney Jason Williams has been vocal about this—the numbers were dropping. Then, this happens. It’s like a punch to the gut when you’re finally starting to catch your breath.
There’s also the technical side of it that makes people angry. It came out later that the city had high-end "Archer" barriers designed specifically to stop vehicle-ramming attacks. They just... didn't use them that night. Why? Probably a mix of bureaucracy and oversight, but it’s a bitter pill for the families to swallow.
How Victims Are Identified and Remembered
The process of releasing new orleans victims names usually falls to the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office. In the 2025 attack, they worked alongside the FBI's Victim Services.
It’s not just about the deceased, either. There were 57 others injured. People like Parker Vidrine, a friend of Kareem Badawi, who was left in critical condition. Or the two NOPD officers who were shot during the chaotic gunfight that followed the truck ramming.
When a tragedy like this happens, the city doesn't just put up a plaque. They hold second lines. They play jazz. They make sure the names aren't forgotten in a sea of police reports.
What to Do If You’re Looking for Info
If you are looking for specific records or trying to find information on older cases—perhaps from the 121 homicides recorded in 2025 or the identification of long-lost victims like the recent 20-year-old identification of a Hurricane Katrina victim—there are specific routes to take.
First, the NOPD maintains a "Calls for Service" database. It’s public, but they redact a lot to protect privacy. You can find it at Data.NOLA.gov. For formal identification or coroner reports, you have to go through the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office.
If you’re a family member of a victim, the FBI’s Victim Assistance Program is usually the best bet for navigating the legal aftermath of a mass casualty event. They provide everything from mental health resources to help with funeral expenses through the Crime Victims Fund.
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Moving Forward
The city is currently under a bit of a microscope. President Trump recently deployed National Guard troops to patrol the streets, a move that’s been controversial. Some say it’s a necessary deterrent; others, like some local officials, argue it’s "theatre" since crime was already falling.
Regardless of the politics, the families of the Bourbon Street 14 are still there. They are still dealing with the empty chairs at the dinner table.
If you want to help, or if you're looking for ways to support the community, look into local grassroots organizations like Ubuntu Village or the Metropolitan Crime Commission. These groups work on the ground to handle the "why" behind the violence, not just the "what happened."
The best way to honor the new orleans victims names is to understand the city they loved—or the city they were so excited to visit. New Orleans is a place that refuses to be defined by its worst days.
Next Steps for Information and Support:
- Access official NOPD incident data via Data.NOLA.gov for verified crime statistics and block-level incident reports.
- Contact the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office for official public records regarding victim identification and cause-of-death certifications.
- Reach out to the FBI New Orleans Field Office if you are seeking updates on the federal investigation into the 2025 Bourbon Street attack or need access to victim compensation resources.