As families grieve, the lack of information regarding the New Year's Eve attack in New Orleans leaves them seeking answers. Victim’s relatives, including those of Jack Bech and Matthew Tenedorio, share their heartbreak and frustration over the incident that claimed 14 lives, hoping the focus remains on the victims.
New Orleans Tragedy: Families Get No Answers After NYE Attack
New Orleans Tragedy: Families Get No Answers After NYE Attack
Families of the victims from the horrific New Year’s Eve incident in New Orleans mourn their losses and demand clarity amidst the chaos.
Fourteen flowers were laid at the entrance of Bourbon Street, a somber tribute to the victims of a devastating attack that unfolded just hours before the New Year in New Orleans. Jack Bech, who had just spoken with his brother Martin, a former football star and outdoorsman known as “Tiger”, reflects on their last phone call. That night, Jack was in Dallas and Tiger was in New Orleans, ready to celebrate. Tragically, their conversation would be the last before Tiger lost his life among the 14 victims when Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old army veteran, rammed his truck into a packed crowd. Jabbar, who had expressed extremist views online, was eventually killed in a shootout with police.
Victims' families are grappling with the loss of their loved ones, many of whom were young locals like Tiger Bech. Jack describes his brother as his inspiration and highlights the profound changes to their family dynamic. "Every holiday, there’s going to be an empty seat at the table," he lamented. However, he aims to honor his brother’s memory by living life to the fullest, as Tiger would have wished.
Another victim, 25-year-old Matthew Tenedorio, had spent New Year’s Eve with family before heading into New Orleans, despite their concerns for his safety amid the celebration. His cousin, Christina Bounds, reported the family's distress at the lack of information from authorities following the attack. "There has been no information from doctors, hospitals, or cops," she said.
Tenedorio's family is now struggling with their grief as they try to piece together events. According to Ms. Bounds, clarity is crucial for their healing. She voicelessly expressed their anguish, "Was he carried out by EMS? Did he die instantly? These answers would help people accept what happened."
The family has started a GoFundMe to cover funeral costs, compounded by the medical bills from Tenedorio's mother’s recent battle with cancer. Cousin Zach Colgan remembers Matthew as a cheerful, warm-hearted individual whose life was tragically cut short by a senseless act of violence.
Colgan is determined that the focus should remain on the victims. "I want every single one of them to be remembered,” he stated. "No one deserves this." As the families seek answers in the aftermath of this tragedy, they hope that their loved ones will be memorialized rather than have the narrative consumed by the actions of the attacker.
Victims' families are grappling with the loss of their loved ones, many of whom were young locals like Tiger Bech. Jack describes his brother as his inspiration and highlights the profound changes to their family dynamic. "Every holiday, there’s going to be an empty seat at the table," he lamented. However, he aims to honor his brother’s memory by living life to the fullest, as Tiger would have wished.
Another victim, 25-year-old Matthew Tenedorio, had spent New Year’s Eve with family before heading into New Orleans, despite their concerns for his safety amid the celebration. His cousin, Christina Bounds, reported the family's distress at the lack of information from authorities following the attack. "There has been no information from doctors, hospitals, or cops," she said.
Tenedorio's family is now struggling with their grief as they try to piece together events. According to Ms. Bounds, clarity is crucial for their healing. She voicelessly expressed their anguish, "Was he carried out by EMS? Did he die instantly? These answers would help people accept what happened."
The family has started a GoFundMe to cover funeral costs, compounded by the medical bills from Tenedorio's mother’s recent battle with cancer. Cousin Zach Colgan remembers Matthew as a cheerful, warm-hearted individual whose life was tragically cut short by a senseless act of violence.
Colgan is determined that the focus should remain on the victims. "I want every single one of them to be remembered,” he stated. "No one deserves this." As the families seek answers in the aftermath of this tragedy, they hope that their loved ones will be memorialized rather than have the narrative consumed by the actions of the attacker.
