Officials identify UGA student, 19, critically injured in New Orleans attack

Sara Gregory, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Jan 1, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

A University of Georgia student from south Florida was critically injured in the deadly attack early New Year’s Day in New Orleans, where Bulldogs fans had gathered to cheer on their football team in the Sugar Bowl.

UGA President Jere W. Morehead said he spoke with the female student’s family and shared his support on behalf of the UGA community, who mourned the tragedy on what should have been a festive holiday and game day.

A spokesperson for the student’s high school identified her as Elle Eisele. She graduated from the Canterbury School in Fort Myers, Florida, in 2023.

She was injured alongside a former high school classmate, Steele Idelson, the school said. Both are receiving medical treatment and among roughly three dozen people who were hurt when a man drove a pickup truck around a police barricade and down Bourbon Street, which teemed with New Year’s Eve revelers. At least 15 people were killed in the attack, according to the New Orleans coroner. The FBI said it is being investigated as terrorism.

The Canterbury School issued a statement on behalf of the 19-year-old girls’ families.

“The Eisele and Idelson families are deeply grateful for the outpouring of thoughts, prayers and offers of support for our daughters following the tragic attack in New Orleans,” the statement reads. “We are especially thankful for the exceptional care and compassion they are receiving at University Medical Center. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the first responders, whose swift actions may have saved our daughters’ lives. To everyone who has reached out with love and support, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

The bowl game between Georgia and Notre Dame was scheduled to take place Wednesday night but was postponed to Thursday.

“As we continue to hold the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers, the university will do everything in its power to support those in our community who have been impacted by this unspeakable event,” Morehead said in a statement.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill extended her condolences to the victims’ families, noting that parents received phone calls that they never want to receive.

“As a parent of children who come to New Orleans and spend time here ... we hold our breaths sometimes until they are home safe. And some people did not come home safe,” Murrill said during an afternoon news conference. “And we also have some people who are fighting for their lives right now in the hospital. So I would ask everyone to pray for them. They need our support and they need our prayers.”

In addition to the players, students in UGA’s Redcoat Marching Band also went to New Orleans for the game. It’s unknown how many students traveled with the university, but the UGA Athletic Association said everyone in the official travel party was accounted for.

FBI Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan told reporters at the same news conference that she couldn’t confirm where the victims lived or their ages. She said those details are being withheld pending family notification.

Family members identified some of the deceased in the hours after the attack.

The mother of Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, 18, of Mississippi, said her daughter was one of those killed, according to reports from NOLA.com.

The news outlet and TV stations also reported a former Princeton University football player from Louisiana died. Tiger Bech was visiting the city for the holiday.

A father of two, Reggie Hunter, of Louisiana, was also killed, the newspaper reported. The 37-year-old was on Bourbon Street with his cousin, who is among those injured.

A single mom, Nicole Perez, of Louisiana, also died, according to news reports. The 28-year-old was teaching her 4-year-old son to read and do math, NOLA.com reported.

_______

Staff writers Jozsef Papp and Vanessa McCray contributed to this article.