Dreams Cut Short: Lives Lost in New Orleans New Year’s Day Attack

An aspiring nurse, a football star, a single mother, and a father of two were among the 14 victims killed in the New Orleans New Year’s Day truck attack.

Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, was a compassionate and responsible young woman who worked at a hospital while preparing to start college and pursue her dream of becoming a registered nurse.

Tiger Bech, 27, a former Princeton University football star and standout athlete, had returned home for the holidays. He was working as an investment trader in New York while maintaining close ties to his Louisiana roots.

Nicole Perez, a single mother in her late 20s, had recently been promoted to manager at a local deli. She worked hard to provide for her 4-year-old son, teaching him essential skills during breaks at work.

Reggie Hunter, 37, a devoted father of two from Baton Rouge, had just left work to celebrate New Year’s with family when his life was tragically cut short.

Their deaths have left grieving families and communities mourning the loss of lives filled with promise, dedication, and love.

This heartbreaking tragedy has cast a shadow over what should have been a time of celebration, leaving an enduring impact on all who knew them.