The New Orleans Saints and the NFL will donate $1 million. Victims of the Bourbon Street Terror Fourteen people died on New Year’s Day, the team announced Saturday.
“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 terrorist attack in New Orleans,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement. “As a league, our cities and teams compete at the highest level of competition and share a fierce rivalry. Our staff and players work tirelessly to achieve their goals and we share wins and losses. But through football we also unite and unite all Fight against all forms of hatred.”
The donation consists of a $500,000 pledge from Benson and the Saints and a matching contribution from the NFL Foundation, the football league’s charitable arm. The congregation said it worked with the charity Greater New Orleans Foundation and the nonprofit United Way to allocate funds to local organizations that “directly support” attack victims and their families.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in another statement, “We offer our heartfelt condolences to everyone affected by the tragic events in New Orleans.” “The NFL is committed to standing with New Orleans’ resilient community during this difficult time.”
Gerald Herbert/AP
Community groups and some individuals, including New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson, have rallied around the victims since the attack occurred on New Year’s Day. Early on January 1, a man intentionally drove a pickup truck A car crashed into a crowd celebrating Christmas in New Orleans’ French Quarter, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more.
Authorities have identified the driver who died in a shootout with police. Samsuddin JavaI am a 42-year-old American citizen from Texas.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation defined this attack as an act of terrorism. A black ISIS flag was flying from the back bumper of the truck, and President Biden later reported to the FBI that Jabbar had “posted a video on social media in which he was inspired by ISIS and expressed a desire to kill” hours before the rampage. He said he found it. .
“Let me be clear about this: This was an act of terrorism. It was a planned and evil act,” Christopher Raia, head of the FBI’s counterterrorism division, said during a briefing Thursday. At least 35 people were injured in the incident, and some were hospitalized in critical condition, officials said.
A vigil was held along Bourbon Street Saturday evening, and as a brass band began playing, it became a celebration of life.
Cathy Tenedorio, who lost her 25-year-old son Matthew, told The Associated Press she was touched by the outpouring of condolences and kindness at Saturday’s vigil.
“This is the most overwhelming response and outpouring of love. I’m going through it all,” she said.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Mr. Biden has the following plan. travel to new orleans On Monday, he and First Lady Jill Biden “grieved with the families and community members affected by this 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, NJ; Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, of Gretna, Louisiana; Terence 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 Pettifer, 31, of London.
The final victim, 45-year-old Latasha Polk, was identified by family members at a vigil on Bourbon Street on Saturday.
