A Fairfield family traveled to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl, which has since been postponed, but instead encountered tragedy.
Alex Lopez and his family celebrated New Year’s Eve in New Orleans’ French Quarter, unaware that the festivities would turn into a mass casualty event in just a few hours.
“Bourbon Street was alive,” Lopez explained. “There was a ton of people, I’d say 100,000 people or more, walking up and down the street celebrating and having a good time.”
Lopez’s daughter managed to flee the scene of the attack 15 minutes before it started.
“It scares you because you’re celebrating with your family, and then something like this happens just a few hours later. “It’s tragic,” Lopez said.
According to the FBI, around 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day, 42-year-old United States Army veteran and Texas resident Shamsud Din Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck through barricades and crowds on Canal and Bourbon Streets, killing at least 10 people and injuring at least 30 others.
Authorities have released the names of three victims:
- Nikyra Dedeaux, 18
- Tiger Bech, 28
- Reggie Hunter, 37
Several students were expected in New Orleans for Wednesday’s quarterfinal college playoff game between Notre Dame and the University of Georgia.
The game has since been rescheduled for tomorrow, Jan. 2, and officials say they will have a safety plan for all attendees. They will also fly flags at half-staff in honor of the victims.
Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has strong ties to Louisiana and discussed the tragedy at a press conference.
Chase prayed for the families of the victims and the officers who responded to the attack.
Lopez and his family are unsure whether they will remain in New Orleans for the game.
Authorities are looking into this as a terrorist attack, noting that Jabbar had an ISIS flag tied to his rented pickup truck.
Officials add that they do not believe Jabbar acted alone and urge anyone who has had contact with him within the last 72 hours to contact the FBI.
