Jimmy Cothran, a witness to the New Orleans attack on New Year's Eve, recounted his experience of the event and detailed what was “hardest” about dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy.
The attack on Bourbon Street early Wednesday It left at least 14 dead Dozens were wounded, according to the FBI. The agency identified the driver as Shams al-Din Jabbara US citizen from Texas and army veteran who was inspired by ISIS.
“There are names and faces of these victims now, these innocent people so full of life — they're just gone,” Cothran said.The story” Thursday .
The suspect in the truck attack in New Orleans at the behest of the Islamic State terrorist group
Cothran recounted that he saw the bodies of many victims. One of them was Nicole Perez, a 27-year-old mother of a 4-year-old boy.
“Mrs. Perez was the first body I saw, and it broke me when they showed that picture of her and her son, because that was not the woman I saw,” Cothran said. “When she looked down and looked up, there was only pain and everything she went through in those last moments, and then being alone in the middle of the road.”
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 1: Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies work the scene on Bourbon Street after the New Year's Eve attack. (Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)
Another victim, Nekira Dido, was 18 years old when she was killed by High speed truck.
“Nikira, she was the one slightly to the left of Ms. Perez — a very young girl,” Cothran said, explaining that he had previously seen her dancing and having a good time before the collision.
“She didn't look like a human being,” Cothran recalled after her injury.
Cothran also criticized the city's lack of barriers, saying the truck would never have reached that speed if the barriers had been replaced.
“It could have been a lot better,” he said.
The barriers from 2017 were reportedly removed in November as part of a larger security infrastructure project, and are in the process of being replaced with new barriers by the city, according to the British Daily Mail. nola.com.
Cothran expressed his grief for the victims and shared a message to Community recovery From the horrific incident
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“People take a lot of things for granted about how we treat each other,” he said. “I mean, when you have things this heinous and this evil, you can't let the little things dictate one minute of your life when that life won't exist tomorrow or later this evening.”
