New Orleans has held a vigil to mourn the lives of the 14 people killed when a truck was driven into revellers celebrating the new year.
The vigil began near a makeshift memorial with pictures of the victims, candles, teddy bears and flowers carefully laid out on the street.
The New Orleans coroner’s office has identified 13 of the 14 victims, including British citizen Edward Pettifer.
Cathy Tenedorio, whose 25-year-old son Matthew died in the New Year’s Day attack, said she felt moved by the condolences and kindness at the vigil.
The cause of death of all 14 victims has been listed as “blunt force injuries” by the coroner’s office.
In memory of the 14 people killed when a truck crashed into partygoers celebrating the new year, New Orleans has held a vigil.
Among those who gathered on Saturday night on Bourbon Street, the well-known French Quarter thoroughfare where the attack occurred, were some of the relatives of those who were killed.
A temporary memorial featuring teddy bears, candles, flowers, and photos of the victims was set up on the street where the vigil started.
The crowd danced and followed the music as the brass band started playing, turning the families’ sobs into celebrations.
Thirteen of the fourteen victims, including British national Edward Pettifer, have been identified by the coroner’s office in New Orleans.
The 31-year-old from west London was the stepson of Tiggy Legge-Bourke, who worked as a nanny for Prince William and Prince Harry from 1993 to 1999.
In his eulogy of Mr. Pettifer, William expressed his shock and sadness over his “tragic” passing yesterday.
According to Cathy Tenedorio, whose 25-year-old son Matthew perished in the attack on New Year’s Day, she was touched by the sympathy and compassion shown during the vigil.
According to her, “this is the most overwhelming response of love, an outpouring of love.”. It’s all floating through me. “..”.
“Seeing our city come together in the face of a true tragedy means a lot,” said Autrele Felix, whose friend Nicole Perez was killed. We all join together. “.”.
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Others claimed that the best way to honor the victims was to get into the party spirit.
“Because that’s what they were down here to do, they were having a good time,” said Kari Mitten, a native of New Orleans.
According to the coroner’s office, “blunt force injuries” are the cause of death for all 14 victims.
In the early hours of New Year’s Day, former US army soldier Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a rented truck into crowds of people, causing about 30 other people to be hurt.
Videos that Jabbar posted online hours prior to the incident declared his support for the Islamic State. In a firefight with the responding police, he was shot and killed.
According to a representative for the University Medical Center New Orleans, eight of the injured are in critical care and 13 are still in the hospital.
