2025 began with terror attacks in US

On New Year’s day, the United States experienced two separate attacks, one in New Orleans and the other in Las Vegas.

On Jan. 1, at 3:15 a.m., 42-year-old, Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a rented Ford F-150 pickup truck around a police car, blocking the Canal Street entrance to Bourbon Street, onto a sidewalk. Jabbar drove at an accelerated speed, ramming into the crowd, killing 14 people and injuring countless others celebrating the new year. 

After running into construction equipment, Jabbar exited the vehicle and began firing at the crowd and law enforcement. Police officers began firing back and killed Jabbar at the scene. Law enforcement recovered weapons, a potential Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag from the vehicle. Other potential IEDs were also found around the French Quarter. 

Hours later in Las Vegas, 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, shot himself in a Tesla Cybertruck before the vehicle exploded outside of Trump International Hotel. The explosion, caused by a large amount of fireworks inside the car, was mostly contained by the vehicle but did cause minor injuries to seven people. There was no damage to the hotel. 

Although the attacks happened on the same day, they are not connected. Both of the attackers were working alone. The New Orleans attack was investigated as a terrorist attack. Born and raised in the United States, Jabbar was an army veteran who lived in Texas. In the hours before the attack, Jabbar posted five videos onto Facebook where he professed his allegiance to ISIS.

Similarly, Livelsberger was also an army soldier. He was a member of the U.S. Special Army Forces and recently returned from an assignment in Germany with approved leave. 

  The explosion in Las Vegas only injured a few people but was planned to harm many more. The ages of those killed in the New Orleans attack ranged from 18 to 63, with most being in their twenties.

Nikyra Dedeaux, an 18-year-old from Gulfport, Mississippi, was the youngest of the victims. She was an aspiring nurse and had a job at a hospital as she was preparing to start college. 

Hubert Gauthreaux, was from Gretna, Louisiana. The 21-year-old is remembered by his family for his passion for baseball and sense of humor. His family described him as a “light” in their lives. 

Kareem Badawi was a freshman at the University of Alabama, majoring in mechanical engineering. The 23-year-old was from Baton Rouge and a native of Louisiana. His family described him as smart, athletic, but above all, kind. 

Matthew Tenedorio, a 25-year-old from Picayune, Mississippi, was an audio-visual technician at the New Orleans Superdome. In a press release from the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, Tenedorio was described as talented with a bright future. 

William “Billy” DiMaio, a 25-year-old, was from Holmdel, New Jersey. He worked as an account executive for broadcasting company Audacy, in their New York office. Bill DiMaio described him as “a good and humble kid,” according to The Associated Press. 

Andrew Dauphin worked in Birmingham, Alabama as a supplier process engineer at American Honda Motor Company. The 26-year-old graduated in 2023 from Auburn University. The president of the university, Christopher B. Roberts, released a statement on the university’s Instagram, sending his “sincere condolences to the family and loved ones” of Dauphin.

Martin Bech was from Lafayette, Louisiana, graduating from St. Thomas More Catholic High School. He went on to play football at Princeton University before graduating college in 2021. His former coach described the 27-year-old as charismatic and intelligent. 

Nicole Perez was a 27-year-old single mother to her 4-year-old son, Melvin. She worked at Kimmy’s Deli in Metairie, Louisiana, where she had been recently promoted to manager, according to The Associated Press. Edward Pettifer was a 31-year-old British citizen from London. In a statement from his family, Pettifer was described as a “wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew and a friend to so many.”

Reggie Hunter was from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The 37-year-old father of two had gotten off of work and decided to head down to New Orleans on a whim. Shirell Jackson, Hunter’s cousin, described him as “full of light,” according to BBC News.

Elliot Wilkinson, a 40-year-old native of Slidell, Louisiana, loved New Orleans and had longed to go back. According to his brother Cecil Wilkinson, Elliot Wilkinson struggled with depression. His mother hopes “people remember her son for the good things he brought into the world, rather than the challenges he faced,” according to ABC News. 

Brandon Taylor was a restaurant cook in the New Orleans area. His friend, O’Kieth Gibson, told NOLA.com that Taylor “was a fun loving person, full of energy.” The 43-year-old was recently engaged to his fiancee Heather Genusa.

Latasha Polk, a 47-year-old nursing assistant, was the last victim to be identified from the attack. Her mother, Lanisha Butler, told ABC News her daughter “was a sweet, loving person, a great mother, sweet to the world. A hard working woman would do whatever for her child.” Polk was from New Orleans and is survived by her son, Chistopher.

Terrence Kennedy was the oldest victim of the attack in New Orleans. The 63-year-old was a native of New Orleans. His niece, Monisha James, described her uncle as a “Just a sweet, kind, loving, helpful person that would not harm anyone,” to The Associated Press. 

In the aftermath of the attack, concerns over safety in the French Quarter have been raised. New Orleans will host the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, and the annual chaos of Mardi Gras season is already looming over the city. As for the country, these tragic attacks are an eerie introduction into a contentious year, as President-elect Donald Trump returns to office.