New Orleans Saints and NFL to donate $1 million Bourbon Street attack victims The team announced Saturday that 14 people died on New Year's Day.
Saints owner Gail Benson said in a statement, “Our community has experienced an unimaginable tragedy and our collective hearts are broken as we mourn the victims and survivors of the New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans ” “As a league, our cities and teams compete at the highest level of competition and share passionate rivalries. Our staff and players work tirelessly to achieve our goals and we share in the wins and losses However, through football, we are also united and we stand shoulder to shoulder against all forms of hatred.”
The donation includes a $500,000 pledge by Benson and the Saints and a matching contribution by the NFL Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the football league. The Saints said they have partnered with the charity Greater New Orleans Foundation and the nonprofit United Way to allocate the funds to local organizations that “directly support” the victims of the attack and their families.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the tragic events in New Orleans,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in another statement. “The NFL is committed to standing with the resilient community of New Orleans during this difficult time.”
Gerald Herbert/AP
Community groups and some individuals, including New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson, have rallied to the victims' side since the New Year's Day attack. As early as January 1, a man intentionally drove a pickup truck An explosion killed 14 people and injured dozens of others when it hit a crowd of vacationers in New Orleans' French Quarter.
Officials identify driver who was killed in shootout with police Shamsuddin Jabbar42 year old American citizen from Texas.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has described the attack as a terrorist act. A black ISIS flag was flying from the rear bumper of the truck, and President Biden later said that the FBI found that Jabbar had “posted videos on social media that indicate he was inspired by ISIS, and was planning to commit murder.” Was expressing a wish.
“Let me be very clear about this point. This was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and a wicked act,” Christopher Raia of the FBI's counterterrorism division said at a briefing Thursday. Officials said at least 35 people were injured in the incident and some were hospitalized in critical condition at the time.
A vigil was held on Bourbon Street Saturday evening and turned into a celebration of life when a brass band began playing.
Kathy Tenedorio, who lost her 25-year-old son Matthew, told The Associated Press that she was touched by the outpouring of condolences and kindness at Saturday's prayer.
She said, “This is the most tremendous reaction of love, an outpouring of love. I am going through all this.”
Gerald Herbert/AP
Mr. Biden's plan visit new orleans on Monday with First Lady Jill Biden “to offer condolences to the families and community members affected by the tragic attack.”
The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office shared the names of all but one of the victims last week. They are: Kareem Badawi, 23, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Martin Bech, 27, of New York City, New York; Andrew Dauphin, 26, of Montgomery, Alabama; Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, of Gulfport, Mississippi; William DiMaio, 25, of Holmdel, New Jersey; Hubert Gauthreux, 21, of Gretna, Louisiana; Terrence Kennedy, 63, of New Orleans, Louisiana; Reggie Hunter, 37, of Prairieville, Louisiana; Nicole Perez, 27, of Metairie, Louisiana; Brandon Taylor, 43, of Harvey, Louisiana; Matthew Tenedorio, 25, of Picayune, Mississippi; Elliot Wilkinson, 40, of Slidell, Louisiana; and Edward Pettyfer, 31, of London.
The final victim, 45-year-old Latasha Polk, was identified by family members during a vigil on Bourbon Street on Saturday.