Some victims of New Orleans truck-ramming attack identified

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - A pickup truck rammed into a crowd in the US city of New Orleans’ popular French quarter in the early hours of New Year's Day in what officials described as a “terror attack,” killing at least 10 people.

Although the authorities have not revealed the identities of the victims, Anadolu has compiled some of their names via media reports and statements from family members.

They include 18-year-old Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux from Gulfport, Mississippi, who had planned to begin a nursing program at Blue Cliff College on Jan. 13, following the lead of her mother, who is a nurse.

She lost her life after being struck by the pickup truck on Bourbon Street while visiting New Orleans to celebrate the New Year with her cousin and a friend, according to those who accompanied her.

Known as "Biscuit" among her friends and "Cheyenne" by her family, Dedeaux was described by her friend Zion Parsons as someone who "was never down or grumpy."

Parsons referred to her as "a little ball of sunshine" who always tried to remain positive and uplift others whenever she sensed negativity or a bad mood.

Melissa Dedeaux, her mother, said Nikyra had "carloads" of friends and was constantly spending time with them.

She was the third eldest among six siblings.

Reggie Hunter, a 37-year-old father of two children, was also among the victims.

He was a warehouse manager from Baton Rouge.

He decided on a whim to visit Bourbon Street on Tuesday, according to his first cousin, Shirell Jackson.

Both Hunter and another cousin were struck by the truck.

Hunter succumbed to his injuries, while his cousin remains hospitalized with severe internal injuries.

Tiger Bech, a 28-year-old native of Lafayette and former football player, died after suffering catastrophic injuries from the attack.

Kim Broussard, the athletic director at St. Thomas More (STM) Catholic High School, said Bech excelled there as a football player before continuing his athletic career at Princeton University.

A 2021 Princeton graduate with a degree in finance, he worked as a trader at a New York brokerage firm.

He had traveled to New Orleans for the holidays.

Bech was kept on life support until his family could arrive.

During his time at STM, he earned all-state honors and was a member of the All-Acadiana Regional and All-District First Team as a senior.

He was also the older brother of former LSU player Jack Bech.