NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – New details are coming to light as authorities investigate a truck attack by an “ISIS inspired” terrorist, who killed at least 14 people and injured roughly 30 more along Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year's Day.
HERE'S THE LATEST:
1:50 PM – NYC-based account executive, 25, is among the victims
A 25-year-old account executive who worked in New York City was among the people killed in the terror attack, his employer confirmed.
Billy DiMaio worked at the Manhattan offices of Audacy, the parent company of 1010 WINS.
DiMaio lived in Holmdel, New Jersey, and was a graduate of Chestnut Hill College in Pennsylvania, where he was a standout athlete on the lacrosse team.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Audacy said, “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Billy DiMaio, a New York-based Account Executive, in the terrorist attack in New Orleans. Beyond his professional achievements, Billy will be fondly remembered for his unwavering work ethic, positive attitude, and kindness. He was a true asset to the Audacy team, and his contributions and presence will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with Billy's family and friends during this exceedingly difficult time, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them and every member of the Audacy family who had the privilege of working with him.”
At least two other victims were also from the New York area. Tiger Bech, 27, worked at the NYC-based brokerage firm Seaport Global. Matthew Tenedorio, 25, was from Long Island and moved to Louisiana, where he worked at Caesars Superdome.
11:45 AM – FBI says suspect appears to have acted alone, no known link to Vegas
Christopher Raia, a deputy assistant director with the FBI Counterterrorism Division, said Thursday that authorities believe Shamsud-Din Jabbar was the only suspect involved in the New Orleans attack, and that the attack doesn’t appear to be linked in any way to a Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas the same day.
“We do not assess anyone else is involved in this attack except Shamsud-Din Jabbar,” Raia said at an 11:15 a.m. press conference with local, state and federal officials. Authorities had previously said they believed he had accomplices.
Raia said Jabbar had posted videos to social media before the attack saying that he had joined ISIS and also providing a will and testament.
Investigators recovered three phones and two laptops and are working to access them, he said.
Raia also revealed that two improvised explosive devices were found in coolers in the city’s French Quarter, and that surveillance video shows Jabbar placing them there sometime after midnight.
“This was an act of terrorism, it was premediated and an evil act,” Raia said.
He also dispelled reports of a possible link between the New Orleans attack and the Cybertruck explosion outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas that killed a U.S. Army soldier inside the truck and injured several others.
“At this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the FBI had cleared Bourbon Street and that it would reopen around 2:30 p.m. local time, in time for the Sugar Bowl, a major college football game that was postponed a day because of the attack.
"Bourbon Street will be prepared for full activation before game time today," Cantrell said.
Officials said there's no known threat to the public at this time and that it's important for the city to remain resilient as police keep security tight.
11:20 AM -- Lousiana governor, law enforcement give updates
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is holding a press conference with the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Police Department. Watch live here:
10:35 AM – Bourbon Street to reopen to public Thursday
Authorities finished processing the attack scene early Thursday morning—including removing the last of the bodies. Bourbon Street is set to reopen at some point later in the day, according to an official familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry will hold a news conference on the street at 11 a.m. ET to provide updates on the investigation with local, state and federal officials.
10:15 AM – Biden to convene members of homeland security team
President Joe Biden will meet with members of his homeland security team at the White House on Thursday afternoon to discuss the New Orleans attack.
White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Emilie Simons wrote on X that the president will meet with officials in the Situation Room for “an update on the investigation into the terrorist attack in New Orleans.”
9:45 AM — FBI concludes search of suspect's Texas home
Shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday, the FBI and Harris County Sheriff's Office concluded a search of a home on Crescent Peak Drive in Houston that was listed as a recent residence of the suspect in the attack.
"There is no threat to residents in that area," the FBI said in an update around 9 a.m.
The white mobile home is behind a gate and in a small neighborhood where goats and ducks were roaming the grass.
9 AM – Victims include investment trader from NY brokerage
A former high school and college football player from Louisiana who worked for a New York brokerage firm was among those killed in the attack.
Tiger Bech, 27, died late Wednesday morning at a New Orleans hospital, according to local media outlets citing Kim Broussard, the athletic director at St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette. Bech attended the high school, where he played wide receiver, quarterback, punt returner and defensive back, NOLA.com reported.
Bech has been working at NYC-headquartered Seaport Global, where company spokesperson Lisa Lieberman could not confirm his death. But she told The Associated Press that “he was extremely well regarded by everybody who knew him.”
Bech played football at Princeton University in New Jersey before graduating in 2021. Most recently he was working as an investment trader at the brokerage firm.
Princeton football coach Bob Surace said Wednesday that he had been texting with Bech’s father, sharing memories of the player, who was a school kick returner and receiver from 2017 to 2019. He earned All-Ivy League honors as a returner.
“He might be the first Tiger to ever play for us, and that nickname kind of described him as a competitor,” Surace told ESPN. The school’s nickname is the Tigers. “He was somebody that somehow, like in the key moments, just excelled and was full of energy, full of life.”
In a response to a KLFY-TV report posted on X about Tiger Bech’s death, a post from an account for a Jack Bech on the social media site said: “Love you always brother ! You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us.”
The victims also included an 18-year-old girl dreaming of becoming a nurse, a single mother and a father of two.
8:30 AM -- Long Island native is among those killed in attack
A man who was born and raised on Long Island was among those killed in the attack.
Matthew Tenedorio, 25, was from Mineola and moved to Louisiana, his family told NBC News.
Tenedorio's mother, Cathy Tenedorio, said he was "just starting life" with "the job of his dreams" at the Caesars Superdome.
He was out with friends in New Orleans during the time of the attack.
When his family couldn't reach him, "We knew something dreadfully wrong happened," his mother said. "And then the next thing is we went to University Medical Center, to the morgue."
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said Wednesday that authorities were coordinating in response to the New Orleans attack.
"I have been in communication with Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Ryder and other law enforcement professionals in the region and we are closely monitoring the developments in New Orleans and taking appropriate measures. Our hearts go out to the innocent victims of this senseless act of terrorism and cowardice," Blakeman said.
7 AM -- Gov. Hochul condemns 'cowardly act'
Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement Wednesday evening in response to the massacre in New Orleans, saying New York authorities take the attack "deadly seriously."
“The terrorist attack that occurred in New Orleans this morning is a horrible reminder of the threat terrorism of all stripes poses to our country, our freedom and our way of life. We fully condemn the cowardly act of evil against innocent New Year’s revelers. Additional information is continuing to come to light, but public reporting suggests this attacker may not have acted alone. Although there is no known connection to New York State, I have nonetheless directed the New York State Police (NYSP) to be on high alert as details about this attack continue to unfold. The NYSP and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) remain in constant contact with the FBI and other federal partners, as well as the New York Police Department and state fusion centers throughout the country to ensure we collect, share and analyze information about threats as quickly as possible.
“New York State has a long history of investing in law enforcement and homeland security counterterrorism tools and operations. Under my administration we have added an additional $10 million in annual counterterrorism funding to support local government efforts to intervene in and disrupt the radicalization process and have increased the number of State Police members assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. In addition we have added new staffing, intelligence tools, and other resources to the NYSP Office of Counterterrorism and DHSES because I believe our law-enforcement and homeland security professionals deserve the finest tools and the best training available.
“New Yorkers have confronted the horror of terrorism and we have always come out stronger for it. We stand ready to help our countrymen in New Orleans in any way we can. But I want to stress that New Yorkers should rest assured their government, and I personally, take this threat deadly seriously. We will continue doing everything we can to keep New York safe.”
6:30 AM -- NYPD says no credible threats to NYC
The NYPD said it is monitoring the situation but that there are no credible threats to New York City:
"The NYPD has been closely monitoring recent events in New Orleans and coordinating with federal and regional partners. We have not identified any specific/credible threats or any nexus to New York City at this time."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.