For the residents of New Orleans, grief goes beyond a sad goodbye. It involves celebrating the life we all live through dancing and playing music, helping to usher those who have passed on into the next life.
At a vigil on busy Bourbon Street Saturday evening, several hundred people gathered to do just that. They paid tribute to the victims of the New Year’s Day attack, cried and hugged each other. They placed candles, paintings and five-meter crosses at the two rising memorials. They listened intently as the brass band played the hymn “Just a Closer Walk With You.” Then they dance when “I’ll Fly Away” is played.
The vigil continued the mourning process in the city where 14 people died and dozens were injured when a man from Texas drove a van towards the city’s French Quarter, where crowds of people had gathered along Bourbon Street to celebrate. Federal authorities are investigating the act as a terrorist attack.
One of the victims was Elliot Wilkinson, 40. He had just been released from prison and was homeless, but things seemed to be going well for him. He had begun looking for an apartment, according to the local homeless group, Unity of Greater New Orleans. And he was back in one of his favorite places, according to his brother, Cecil Wilkinson.
“That’s where he wanted to go, when he got out, so that’s where he went,” said the brother on Friday. “He loved that town.”
On Friday evening, the city released the names of 12 of the 14 dead. All died of blunt force injuries, according to an emailed release. The 13th victim was identified by the London Metropolitan Police as a British citizen: Edward Pettifer, 31 years old. One person has not yet been identified.
As their names were revealed this week, friends and families mourned the bright future. Others were just starting college or new jobs. On Friday, people gathered around the flowers and candles that were lined up along the path where the truck traveled. President Biden was planning to visit Monday and meet with the families of the victims and others affected.
Among the victims was Drew Dauphin, 26, who had come to town from Alabama with his younger brother, Matthew. They broke up after going to a concert and getting pizza. Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, had planned to watch the fireworks by the river, he told his family. That morning they checked where his phone was, and saw that it had moved to Bourbon Street.
Matthew Tenedorio, 25, was out with friends after having dinner with his parents. He was remembered for his little high jinks with his cousins, playing pranks and fighting with Nerf guns.
Kareem Badawi and Ni’Kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux were just 18 years old. Mr. Badawi had just finished his first semester at the University of Alabama, where he majored in mechanical engineering, according to his father.
Mrs. Dedeaux was from Gulfport, Miss. She had just graduated high school in the spring and was enrolling in college in New Orleans with plans to become a nurse.
The violence tore families and friends apart. Nicole Perez, 27, had just been promoted at her place of work. He left behind a 4-year-old son. Two cousins, Reggie Hunter, 37, and Kevin Curry, 38, came to town to celebrate the New Year together. Mr. Hunter died, and Mr. Curry was hospitalized with a broken leg.
Tiger Bech, a former college football player who died, was remembered by his younger brother, Jack, in a social media post: “Love you always brother!”
Other victims, like Mr. Wilkinson, had a long association with New Orleans. Terrence Kennedy, 63, has lived in the city all his life and is one of nine children, according to one of his nieces, Monisha James. Having no children, she was always ready to take care of the children of family members, she said. At family events, he would be on the lookout for plates to clear and drinks to refill.
Although many locals avoid this area except for work or singing, Mr. Kennedy loved people watching and hanging out outside the store on Bourbon Street, Ms. James. The family believes that this is what drew him to the street on New Year’s Eve.
“He died doing what he loved to do,” he said.
Brandon Taylor, 43, was a restaurant chef and rapper. He used to drive more than an hour from his home in south New Orleans to see his fiancee, Heather Genusa, who lives near Baton Rouge. Ms. Genusa, 38, recalled that they talked on the phone for about six months before they met in person at the beginning of 2023.
“I said that when we are together, all the stars will align,” she said. “And they did. They really do.”
The couple were planning to move in next month.
According to the city investigator, William Dimaio, 25, of New Jersey, was also among those killed.
Cecil Wilkinson said she had hoped to introduce her daughter to Elliot, but had not yet had the chance.
“We loved each other,” he said. “We always cared about each other when we were young.”
Some of the many people injured in the incident were hospitalized on Saturday. Some had returned home but were still fighting. Alexis Scott-Windham, 23, of Mobile, Ala., who was in New Orleans with friends to celebrate New Year’s, said the assailant’s truck hit her right ankle as she ran from where she was walking. The impact tore through the skin on the back of his leg and broke his ankle in multiple places. He was also shot in the foot.
He’s not ready to go back to New Orleans yet, but in a month or so he wants to visit the memorial on Bourbon Street.
“It could be me,” she said.
As the band played its last notes at the vigil, heading back to the beginning of its route up Bourbon Street, it passed a young man and a young woman carrying a large bouquet of white flowers. They were looking for their friend Brooke, they said her brother was Mr. Gauthreaux.
They stood still. They didn’t quite know what to say, they said. All they wanted to do was give flowers and kiss their grieving friend.
Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs responsible reporting. Kirsten Noyes again Jack Begg research contributed.
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