“So beautiful and full of life”

A young mother teaching her son to read. A former college football player “on top of the world” living in New York. An 18-year-old aspiring nurse. A father of two known as “the life of the party.”

Family members and friends began to identify the 14 people who died ram truck attack early Wednesday morning on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was reportedly “determined” to kill as many people as possible when he drove a pickup truck around the barricades and crashed into a crowd of people ringing in the New Year, according to New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.

MORE: New Orleans attack updates: Suspect identified as Army veteran didn’t act alone

Here’s what we know so far about the victims:

Karim Badawi

Kareem Badawi was identified as one of the victims killed in Wednesday’s attack in a statement from the Episcopal School in Baton Rouge, from which he graduated last year.

A former student was seriously injured and is hospitalized, the school said.

Badawi was studying at the University of Alabama, according to a statement from the university’s president.

“I learned today that Kareem Badawi, one of our students at the University of Alabama, was killed in the terrorist attack in New Orleans. I mourn with family and friends Kareem’s heartbreaking loss,” President Stuart Bell said in a statement.

Tiger Bech, 27 years old

Tiger Bech’s death was confirmed to ABC News by his mother, Michelle Bech.

Michelle Bech said her son, 27, played football at Princeton University and moved to New York after graduating in 2021 to work for Seaport Global, a capital markets company.

MORE: What we know about New Orleans attack suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar

She told ABC News that her son was living life to the fullest and was “on top of the world.”

She said her son was in Louisiana for a long weekend of hunting and fishing, two of his favorite activities, with college friends from Princeton. He was due to return to New York on Wednesday afternoon.

His younger brother, Jack Bech, is a wide receiver for Texas Christian University Football. Michelle Bech said Tiger Bech frequently came from New York over the past two years to attend her brother’s games.

In a statement to ABC News, Princeton football coach Bob Surace described Tiger Bech as “a fierce competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and caring friend.”

Drew Dauphin

Drew Dauphin’s death was confirmed in a statement published by Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts.

Dauphin was graduating from the university in 2023, according to Roberts.

“On behalf of Auburn University, I extend my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Drew Dauphin, a 2023 graduate, who was taken from us during the terrorist attack in New Orleans,” can – we read in Roberts’ press release.

“Words cannot express the grief the Auburn family feels for Drew’s family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time. Our hearts go out to the Dauphin family and the families of all the victims of this senseless tragedy,” the statement continued. .

Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 18 years old

Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux’s death was confirmed to ABC News by her mother, Melissa Dedeaux.

Melissa Dedeaux remembers her 18-year-old daughter as a kind, outgoing young woman who was excited to attend nursing school this year.

“She was a sweet person. She was outgoing, she was well-loved,” said Melissa Dedeaux, who said goodbye to her daughter for the last time Tuesday evening.

Melissa Dedeaux said she begged her daughter not to go to Bourbon Street for New Year’s Eve like she had the year before.

MORE: Biden, Trump react to deadly New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans

Melissa Dedeaux said she was concerned about the danger of the area and needed her daughter to pick her up from her night job at 7:30 a.m.

When another family member came to pick her up from work, she said she felt something was wrong. She said her brother-in-law told her the news once she got home.

Melissa Dedeaux said she hopes others remember her daughter as a kind person.

“She was a good person, and although she was loved by many, this can happen to anyone,” she said.

Hubert Gauthreaux, 21 years old

Huber Gauthreaux, 21, was identified as the victim of Wednesday’s attack in a statement from Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, Louisiana, from which he graduated in 2021.

“It is with great sadness that we share that alumnus Hubert Gauthreaux, Class of 2021, was tragically killed in the senseless act of violence that occurred early this morning in the French Quarter,” a statement from the school said . “He was 21.”

Reggie Hunter, 37 years old

Reggie Hunter’s death was confirmed by his first cousin, Shirell Jackson.

“He didn’t deserve this,” she told ABC News’ Diane Macedo. “It’s senseless; it’s cruel. … I wish none of this had ever happened.”

Jackson said Hunter, 37, leaves behind two sons, Landon Hunter, 11, and Christian Hunter, 18 months. She described her cousin as a “life of the party” with a big heart, funny, loving and caring.

“It hurts us all differently and on many levels,” she said. “We expected to have so much life to live with our cousin… Just a beautiful person who didn’t deserve this and had so much more life to live.”

Nicole Pérez, 27 years old

Nicole Perez, 27, was confirmed as one of the victims by Kimberly Usher-Fall, her employer and family friend.

Usher-Fall said Perez was recently promoted to manager at one of her stores and was really excited about the position.

She said Perez brought her 4-year-old son, Melo (Melvin), with her to work and helped him learn to read.

“She was a great mother,” Usher-Fall told ABC News’ Diane Macedo. “She was just a really exciting little young lady and she was pulling it together.”

Usher-Fall said Perez was out with her friends on New Year’s Eve when she was struck by the truck. She was taken to University Hospital but succumbed to her injuries.

Usher-Fall previously shared the news of Perez’s death Wednesday morning on a GoFundMe page.

“She was so beautiful and full of life. Her son Melo is now without his mom, and we are without our dedicated friend and employee. I hope to get help with her funeral expenses and help her son with expenses he will need to transition to a new living situation.

Matthew Tenedorio, 25 years old

The death of Matthew Tenedorio, 25, was confirmed to ABC News by his parents, Louis and Cathy Tenedorio.

Tenedorio worked as a fiber optic and video professional at the Superdome and Smoothie King Center, according to his parents, who believed he had a limitless future.

Cathy Tenedorio described her son as “the life of the room” whose warmth and humor her friends cherished. When asked what she would miss about her son, she said: “Everything. His beautiful face, laugh. ‘I love you mom.’ You know, he was just a wonderful son.”

The Tenedorios last saw their son at New Year’s Eve dinner before he left for an evening with friends on Bourbon Street.

They both are hesitant about him staying out late on New Year’s Eve.

“But all I did was just hug him and say, ‘I love you. Happy New Year. Please message me when you get home. ‘ And that message never came,” Cathy Tenedorio said.

The Tenedorios began trying to contact their son Wednesday morning, trying to piece together his latest moves by asking his friends. They described a scene of chaos and carnage this caused the group to break up. By the time the shooting stopped, they couldn’t find Matthew, his parents said.

“At noon, I had the good idea that something terrible had happened to my son,” Louis said.

Louis and Cathy said they called hospitals and reported their son missing, then eventually went to a family reunification center at University Medical Center Hospital.

“I heard parents screaming and crying this afternoon. It broke my heart,” said Cathy Tenedorio, describing the anguish of waiting to learn their son’s fate.

What we know about the victims of the New Orleans attack: “So beautiful and full of life” originally appeared on abcnews.go.com