Crime
18-year-old Nikyra Dedeaux killed in New Orleans car-ramming attack
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, drove a rented white pickup truck into the crowded 200 block of Bourbon Street around 3:15 a.m.
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an 18-year-old from Gulfport, Mississippi, tragically lost her life in the New Orleans car-ramming attack that occurred during New Year’s celebrations on Bourbon Street.
Dedeaux had traveled to New Orleans on Tuesday with her cousin and a friend to ring in the new year in the bustling French Quarter.
Her grieving mother, Melissa Dedeaux, confirmed Wednesday that her daughter was one of the 10 fatalities in what authorities are investigating as a terrorist attack.
“I just want to see my baby,” Melissa, 40, said through tears. “She was the sweetest person. She would give you anything, anything.”
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, drove a rented white pickup truck into the crowded 200 block of Bourbon Street around 3:15 a.m.
The attack left 10 people dead and approximately 35 others injured. Jabbar also shot two police officers before being fatally shot by law enforcement.
Cheyenne, affectionately known as “Cheyenne” to her family, had not planned to be in New Orleans, her mother revealed. She had secretly made the trip with her cousin, also 18, and their friend, Zion Parsons, 18.
Parsons recounted that the trio had been leaving Voodoo Chicken & Daiquiris, a popular spot near Bienville Street, when chaos erupted. “Out of nowhere, I heard commotion and banging,” Parsons said.
Melissa Dedeaux’s niece informed her that gunfire had broken out, and the group began to flee. In the confusion, Cheyenne darted into the street and was struck by the oncoming truck. She suffered devastating injuries at the scene.
While the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office has not yet officially confirmed her death, Melissa said she is certain her daughter was among the victims.
“As a mother, when my niece and Zion said they covered her with a sheet, I just knew that was it for my daughter,” Melissa said.
By Wednesday morning, Melissa and her family had reunited with her niece, who remained visibly shaken, and began retracing steps through the French Quarter to locate the car the trio had parked the night before.
The tragic loss of a young life has left the Dedeaux family and the Gulfport community heartbroken. Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux will be remembered as a kind and giving person whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, which has left the city of New Orleans grieving and searching for answers.
Authorities have confirmed that the deadly shooting at Brown University occurred inside a first-floor classroom within the Barus and Holley Engineering Building. Investigators believe all 11 victims were students.
Two individuals were pronounced dead, while the remaining victims were transported to area hospitals.
One additional victim was later confirmed to have sustained injuries from bullet fragments and is expected to make a full recovery.
According to Providence Police, the suspect fled the building immediately after the shooting, exiting onto Hope Street and then moving toward the Waterman Street area.
More than six hours after the incident, the suspect remains at large.
Officials stated that there is no interior surveillance footage of the shooter inside the Barus and Holley building.
Authorities have also been unable to determine how the suspect initially entered the building or precisely where he went after fleeing the scene.
Police described the suspect as a male, possibly in his 30s, dressed in black.
Investigators are also reviewing video evidence that may show the suspect wearing a camouflage-style face covering, though that detail has not yet been fully confirmed.
The incident unfolded shortly after 4:20 p.m., when Brown University issued an emergency alert warning of an active shooter near the Barus and Holley Engineering Building.
Students, faculty, staff, and nearby residents were instructed to shelter in place, lock doors, silence mobile devices, and remain hidden.
The alert emphasized standard emergency guidance: evacuate only if it was safe to do so, hide if evacuation was not possible, and take defensive action only as a last resort.
At approximately 5:27 p.m., the university issued a follow-up alert reporting additional shots fired near Governor Street, about two blocks from the original scene.
Minutes later, the Providence Police Department confirmed that multiple people had been shot in the area surrounding the campus.
During an evening news conference, Providence Deputy Police Chief Tim O’Hara said investigators believe a firearm was used in the attack, though no weapon has been recovered and the type of firearm remains unknown.
Police confirmed there was no direct interaction between officers and the suspect, who fled on foot before law enforcement arrived.
Authorities also addressed reports of a separate police confrontation involving gunfire several blocks away.
Officials clarified that while that incident initially led to reports of a suspect being detained, investigators have not established a confirmed connection between that encounter and the Brown University shooting.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed that no suspect is currently in custody and emphasized that Brown University officials, the Providence Police Department, and the FBI are working in close coordination to locate the individual responsible.
The Barus and Holley Engineering Building, constructed in 1965, houses classrooms, laboratories, offices, and lecture halls for the university’s engineering and physics departments and was occupied at the time due to scheduled exams.
As of the latest update, the shelter-in-place order remains in effect.
Authorities continue to urge the public to avoid the area while the investigation remains ongoing.
Officials have not released identifying information about the victims, citing respect for the families and the active nature of the investigation.