Nationwide — A deadly New Year’s Eve attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans left 15 people dead, including two African Americans, 18-year-old Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, and 37-year-old Reggie Hunter. At least 35 others were injured in what the FBI calls an “act of terrorism.”
Dedeaux had just graduated high school and was set to begin nursing school. Her mother, Melissa Dedeaux, mourned her daughter’s loss. She said, “I just want to see my baby. She was the sweetest person. She would give you anything, anything.”
Reggie Hunter, a father of two from Baton Rouge, was also killed. He had decided to head to Bourbon Street “on a whim” after work to celebrate New Year’s Eve with his cousin. The two were hit by the truck while walking along the street. Hunter died from his injuries, while his cousin was among the many injured.
Hunter was a dedicated father who took pride in his 12-year-old son’s accomplishments in the STEM field and his 18-month-old son. His family, devastated by the loss, set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for his funeral, which has already raised over $8,000.
The tragedy occurred on January 1st around 3:15 a.m. when a truck, allegedly driven by 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, plowed into the crowd. Jabbar, a Texas native, was killed during a shootout with police shortly after the attack. The FBI is leading the investigation in coordination with local law enforcement.