Families of New Orleans Attack Victims Demand Answers Amid Grief

Sat Jan 03 2026 03:29:52 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Loved ones mourn the loss of victims killed in the New Year's Eve attack as they seek clarity from authorities.

In the wake of a tragic New Year's Eve attack in New Orleans that claimed 14 lives, families of the victims, including Jack Bech and Matthew Tenedorio, are grappling with their loss while demanding information from local authorities. The incident, perpetrated by an Army veteran, has left families disillusioned, searching for closure amid the chaos.

On New Year's Eve, a horrific attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans claimed the lives of 14 victims, leaving their families heartbroken and desperate for answers. One of the victims, Martin "Tiger" Bech, a former Princeton athlete known for his vibrant spirit, was on a call with his younger brother Jack moments before the tragedy unfolded. Jack was in Dallas, while Tiger was preparing to celebrate the New Year in New Orleans. "We just thought it was going to be another conversation," Jack recounted, unaware that it would be their last.

The attacker, identified as 42-year-old Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove a pickup truck into a crowded area before engaging in a gunfight with police, ultimately leading to his death. Although Jabbar had posted videos expressing allegiance to the Islamic State, the FBI believes he acted alone. As the identities of the victims slowly emerge, a tragic picture develops: young locals, including Tiger, taken too soon from their families.

Tiger's family, largely based in Lafayette, struggles with the reality of his absence. Jack expressed the deep void left behind, stating, "Every holiday, there's going to be an empty seat at the table." In the face of grief, Jack chooses to honor his brother's memory by encouraging resilience among family members. "He'd want us to keep attacking life," Jack declared, urging his family to support one another.

Another victim, 25-year-old Matthew Tenedorio, an audio-visual technician, had spent the evening prior to the attack with his family in Slidell. Despite their concerns about potential dangers in New Orleans, Tenedorio decided to join friends in the festivities. His cousin, Christina Bounds, described the harrowing experience of receiving the news, detailing how her family rushed to the hospital only to face silence from authorities regarding Matthew's fate.

The family's grief is compounded by a lack of communication from local police and hospitals, leaving them with unanswered questions about Matthew's last moments. Bounds voiced the frustration felt by her family: "Nobody has information. We don't even know what happened." As they navigate this painful period, the family initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses due to existing medical bills from Tenedorio's mother's cancer recovery.

Remembering Matthew, cousin Zach Colgan depicted him as a joyful person who spread happiness with his storytelling and love for animals. "No family should ever have to bury their son for something so senseless," he lamented, emphasizing the need for clarity regarding the attack. Despite the chaos surrounding the incident, Colgan hopes that the focus remains on honoring the victims and their stories rather than solely on law enforcement's response.

As the families of these victims continue to demand answers and seek justice, they carry the immense burden of loss and a desire to remember their loved ones as they move forward in life, hoping that the truth behind the tragedy will come to light.