Jimmy Cothran, a witness to the New Year's attack in New Orleans, has spoken out about his experience of the incident, detailing what was “the most difficult” thing to deal with in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The attack on Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning left at least 14 people dead and dozens injured, according to the FBI. The agency identified the driver as Shamsuddin Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas and a veteran of the Islamic State group.
“We now have the names and faces of these victims. Innocent people full of life just left,” Cothran said Thursday on “The Story.”
New Orleans truck attack suspected of being inspired by Islamic State terrorist group
Cothran said he saw the bodies of multiple victims. One of them was Nicole Perez, a 27-year-old mother of a 4-year-old boy.
“Ms. Perez was the first body I had ever seen. So when they showed me the picture of her and her son, it broke my heart, because that wasn't the woman I saw,” Cothran said. said. “When I looked down and looked up, all I remembered was the pain and everything she probably went through in her final moments and being there alone in the middle of the road. Ta.”
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 1: Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies are on scene on Bourbon Street after the New Year's attack. (Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)
Another victim, Nikila Dedo, was 18 years old when she was struck and killed by a speeding truck.
“Nikila, she was the one on the left a little bit further away from Mr. Perez. She was a very small girl,” Cothran said, adding that he had seen her dancing and having fun before the crash. I explained.
“She didn't look human,” Cothran recalled after the beating.
Mr Cothran also criticized the lack of fencing in the city, arguing that the truck would not have reached that speed if the fencing had been replaced.
“It could have been better,” he said.
The fence, which was installed in 2017, was removed in November as part of a major security infrastructure project, and the city is currently replacing it with new bollards, according to reports. NOLA.com.
Ms Cothran expressed her sadness for the victims and shared a message for the community, which is still recovering from this horrific incident.
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“People take too much for granted about how we treat each other,” he says. “I mean, when you have something so heinous and evil around you, you can’t let little things dictate your life when that life could be gone tomorrow, or even late tonight.”
