Joyous festivities heralding the beginning of 2025 were interrupted by an early morning tragedy on New Year’s Day in Bourbon Street. Families are reeling from Monday’s deadly mass shooting that claimed the lives of 15 people, including 18-year-old Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, who grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi, with big life ambitions-to become a nurse. The attack is now considered an act of terrorism, leaving the nation mourning and one family shattered.
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux was a bright light in her Gulfport community. She had a very caring and loving nature and was employed with a local hospital, while plans were in place for her to start attending a nursing program at Blue Cliff College on January 13. Her love to help others was reflected in her career goals, as well as in relationships she built up with family and friends. Her cousin, Zion Parsons told reporters that she was adventurous person, one who did things on a whim and goes all out.
This past New Year’s Eve, Nikyra chose to celebrate the coming year in New Orleans with her cousin and a friend. It was a trip born of youthful spontaneity, but one that ended in heartbreak.
The festive atmosphere on Bourbon Street suddenly became chaotic shortly after 3:15 a.m. when a white pickup truck charged into a crowd. The driver was identified as Shamsud-din, 42, from the area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana-an American Army veteran who of late has been radicalized. Authorities said Jabbar steered his pickup truck through barricades erected to block traffic from Bourbon Street before making his way deliberately into the crowd with the deliberate intention of harming people. Several shots were fired during the frenzied moments, adding fire to the already chaotic panic.
Eyewitnesses described horrific scenes as people struggled to flee in desperation. At that moment, Nikyra started to run for her life, but she ran into the speeding truck’s path. She died on the spot as her life was blown out in an instant.
Jabbar was killed in a police shootout shortly after, leaving authorities to piece together the motives behind his heinous actions. The FBI has since launched a terrorism investigation into his background and affiliations.
Following the death of her daughter, Nikyra’s mother, Melissa Dedeaux, released an emotional but gut-wrenching message via social media: “When your parents say don’t go anywhere, please listen to them“; the pain oozed from each word. Melissa termed it terrorism and asked the youths to be safe and listen to their parents.
Her words struck a chord, sparking discussions about listening to loved ones and life’s surprises. The message—a mother’s plea born of an unimaginable loss—was being shared from very far beyond Gulfport to the hearts of many.
The Gulfport community has rallied for Nikyra’s family by offering prayers, support, and heartfelt tributes. Nikyra is remembered by all friends and family as sweet, loving, and determined. Her cousin Zion’s anecdotes about how adventurous she was and always making spontaneous decisions reflect a life teeming with energy and promise.
She was never without friends, says Zion. She had a way of making everyone in her life feel special. Her sudden death has created a void not only among her family but also among all those who knew her and admired her dreams of serving others through nursing.
The attack on Bourbon Street came as a rude reminder of vulnerabilities inbuilt in public gatherings. With law enforcement still investigating Shamsud Din Jabbar’s motives and affiliations, the community is also grappling with the nation in terms of understanding how such senseless acts of violence could be meted out on the victims. It now begs the question in this most heartfelt plea from Melissa Dedeaux, if this tragedy will that wake-up call to all youths to heed the call for safety- listening a little more to what people say. The investigation still follows, but the memory of Nikyra and the other 14 dead serves to drive this message home: life is so fragile.
