By Isabelle Taft
Elliot Wilkinson, a 40-year-old man, had experienced a positive turn of events before he was among the 14 individuals killed in New Orleans last week, with federal authorities treating the incident as a terror attack.
Recently released from prison and without a home, Wilkinson had begun looking for an apartment, as informed by a local outreach organization, Unity of Greater New Orleans. Additionally, he was back in one of his beloved locations, as shared by his brother, Cecil Wilkinson.
“That’s where he wanted to go when he got out, and that’s exactly where he headed,” his brother expressed. “He adored that city.”
In the early hours of January 1st, a man from Texas drove a truck into the French Quarter, where throngs of individuals had gathered along Bourbon Street to celebrate. This tragic event resulted in the loss of 14 lives and left numerous others injured, including two police officers hurt during a confrontation that led to the driver’s death.
The vibrant atmosphere of Bourbon Street, characterized by bars, live music, and bustling crowds, attracts a varied group of people, consisting of tourists, street performers, and those who are facing hard times. On New Year’s Eve, it drew a particularly youthful crowd, with many victims in their teens and twenties.
On Friday night, the city disclosed the names of 12 of the 14 victims, all of whom suffered fatal blunt force injuries, according to the emailed announcement. The Metropolitan Police in London identified a 13th victim, 31-year-old Edward Pettifer, as a British citizen. There remains one unverified victim.
As the names were unveiled, friends and family members grieved for the bright futures that were abruptly extinguished. Many victims had just embarked on their college journeys or commenced new employment. On Friday, individuals gathered around a makeshift memorial decorated with flowers and candles along the route the truck traveled. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit on Monday to meet with the families of the victims and others affected.
Drew Dauphin, 26, was also among the deceased; he traveled to the city from Alabama with his younger brother, Matthew. They had separated after attending a concert and grabbing some pizza. Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, had intended to observe the fireworks by the river, he informed his family. That morning, they tracked his phone’s location and noted it had shifted to Bourbon Street.
Matthew Tenedorio, 25, had gone out with friends following a dinner with his parents. He was fondly remembered for his playful antics with his cousins, engaging in pranks and battles with Nerf guns.
Kareem Badawi and Ni’Kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, both 18, were also among the victims. Badawi had recently completed his first semester majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama, as cited by his father.
Dedeaux, hailing from Gulfport, Mississippi, had graduated from high school in the spring and was enrolling in college in New Orleans with aspirations of becoming a nurse.
The assault caused irreparable damage to families and friends. Nicole Perez, 27, had recently received a promotion at the deli where she was employed, leaving behind a 4-year-old son. Two cousins, Reggie Hunter, 37, and Kevin Curry, 38, had come to celebrate the New Year together; while Hunter lost his life, Curry sustained a broken leg and was hospitalized.
Tiger Bech, a former college football player among the casualties, was commemorated by his younger brother Jack through a social media post: “Love you forever brother!”
Some victims, like Wilkinson, maintained deep connections to New Orleans. Terrence Kennedy, 63, was a lifelong resident and the eldest of nine siblings, according to his niece, Monisha James. While he had no children of his own, he was always eager to care for his relatives’ kids, she noted. At family gatherings, he was quick to clear plates and refill drinks.
Although many locals typically steer clear of the area unless working or performing, Kennedy enjoyed people-watching and liked to hang out outside a store on Bourbon Street, his niece revealed. The family believes this is what drew him to the street on New Year’s Eve.
“He passed away doing something he loved,” she remarked.
Brandon Taylor, 43, was a cook and rapper, often traveling over an hour from his residence just south of New Orleans to visit his fiancée, Heather Genusa, who resides near Baton Rouge. Genusa, 38, recounted that they had communicated via phone for about six months before they met in person early in 2023.
“I mentioned that once we met, everything would align perfectly,” she stated. “And it truly did.”
The couple was making plans to move in together the following month.
The city’s coroner, William Dimaio, confirmed that 25-year-old William from New Jersey was also among those who lost their lives.
Cecil Wilkinson expressed that he had wished to introduce his daughter to Elliot, but that moment had yet to occur.
“We had a strong love for one another,” he stated. “We consistently took care of each other when we were younger.”
Several of the numerous individuals injured during the attack remained hospitalized on Saturday. Others had returned home but were still grappling with their experiences. Alexis Scott-Windham, 23, from Mobile, Alabama, who journeyed to New Orleans with friends for New Year’s celebrations, reported that the assailant’s vehicle struck her right ankle as she hurriedly escaped from its path. The collision tore skin from the back of her leg and left her ankle fractured in several locations. She was also shot in the foot.
While she is not yet ready to revisit New Orleans, she aspires to view the memorial on Bourbon Street in about a month.
“It could have easily been me,” she reflected.
