As the New Year celebrations were underway across America on Wednesday, at least fifteen families were tragically shattered following a suspected terror attack in New Orleans. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, drove his pickup truck from Canal Street into Bourbon Street around 3:15am on New Year’s Day, according to the FBI.

An ISIS flag was reportedly seen on the vehicle, and weapons along with a potential improvised explosive device were discovered inside. The identities of the victims have not been officially confirmed yet, but relatives of those tragically killed in the attack have started sharing their tributes on social media, reports The Mirror.

Among the victims are an 18 year old woman, a 37 year old father of two, a former football player aged just 27, and a 28 year old mother who has left behind a four year old son.

Here’s what we know about the reported victims so far…

Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 18

Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 18, originally from Gulfport, Mississippi, was set to start a nursing programme in January, following her mother’s footsteps who is a dedicated nurse. Tragically, the promising young student was killed on Tuesday evening when she was hit by the pickup truck while celebrating the New Year in New Orleans with her cousin and a friend.

Known affectionately as “Biscuit” among her friends and Cheyenne to her family, the late Dedeaux was a beacon of positivity. Her friend Zion Parsons reminisced, saying she “was never down, or grumpy,” but rather “a little ball of sunshine” He added, “You know those kinds of people where you can’t find a reason to dislike them? She was one of those people,” as reported by NOLA.

Melissa Dedeaux, Cheyenne’s mother, spoke with love about her daughter, remembering how she would always bring together “carloads” of friends for gatherings. Despite the heartbreak, Melissa, 40, expressed her longing: “I just want to see my baby. She was the sweetest person. She would give you anything, anything.”

Reggie Hunter, 37

Reggie Hunter, a 37 year old warehouse manager from Baton Rouge, was also tragically killed in the incident. His cousin Shirell Jackson shared that Reggie had made a spontaneous decision to visit Bourbon Street on Tuesday before the calamity occurred.

Both Reggie and another cousin were struck by the truck; Reggie succumbed to his injuries while his cousin is currently hospitalised with severe internal damage. A devoted father, Reggie leaves behind two sons, an 11 year old and an 18-month-old, and took immense pride in his eldest son’s achievements in the STEM field.

Shirell, mourning the loss of her cousin, expressed her grief: “You are praying for a prosperous year in 2025. And never do you think this is the news you are going to get.”

She told ABC News: “He did not deserve this. It’s senseless; it’s cruel. …I wish none of this had ever happened. This is hurting all of us differently and on so many levels. We were expecting so much life to live with our cousin … Just a beautiful person who did not deserve this and had so much more life to live.

Tiger Bech, 27

Tiger Bech, a 27 year old Lafayette native and former football star, was also tragically killed during the attack in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after sustaining severe injuries. Tiger was partaking in the celebrations when he was struck by the suspect’s truck, as reported by Kim Broussard, the athletic director at St. Thomas More Catholic High School, where Bech played football before moving on to play for Princeton University.

Bech graduated from the university in 2021 with a degree in finance and was employed as a trader at a New York brokerage firm. He had only returned to New Orleans to enjoy the holiday season.

Michelle Bech, Tiger’s mother, spoke to ABC news about her son’s untimely death, describing him as an amazing individual who lived life to the fullest and was “on top of the world,” prior to his passing. She also shared that her son was in Louisiana for a long weekend of hunting and fishing, two of his favourite pastimes, with college friends from Princeton.

Nicole Perez, 27

The community is mourning yet another casualty of the unthinkable tragedy, Nicole Perez, whose death was confirmed by family spokeswoman and employer Kimberly Usher-Fall. In poignant pre-tragedy details, Usher-Fall shared that Perez had recently been promoted at one of her stores and was buzzing with excitement about the opportunity.

She disclosed that Perez often brought her young boy, four year old Melo (Melvin), to work, where she nurtured his reading skills. The enjoyment of celebrating her new managerial role turned tragic for Perez when a truck struck her as she ushered in the New Year with friends.

Despite being rushed to University Hospital, she succumbed to her wounds. Usher Fall, in the wake of this heartbreaking turn, has initiated a go-fund me campaign aimed at alleviating the financial burden on Perez’s son and relatives.

The despair of loss radiates from Kimberley’s words: “She was so beautiful and full of life,” adding, “Her son Melo is now without his momma, and we are without our friend and dedicated employee. I’m hoping to get some help for her burial expenses and to help her son with expenses he will need to transition into a new living situation.”