A survivor of the tragic New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has shared his experience. Jeremi Sensky, who is currently recovering in the hospital, recounted the chilling events that unfolded as he was returning to his hotel after spending time with friends.
Sensky described hearing a loud noise and initially thinking something had fallen. He turned around, but after that moment, his memory became unclear until he found himself on the ground. “I came back and there were just people screaming, and I was laying on the ground,” he explained, recalling that he saw parts of his wheelchair scattered around him. Amid the chaos, he also heard gunfire and instinctively thought he should stay low to avoid being hit.
Before the attack, Sensky was paralyzed from the waist down. He noticed the pickup truck coming toward him, but everything happened too quickly for him to react. Although it’s uncertain exactly what happened to him, he believes he was struck by the truck, as his wheelchair was badly damaged.
He described falling onto his face and trying to reposition himself to find safety. Sensky had to wait on the ground for what felt like a long time, calling out for help. Eventually, someone approached him, reassuring him, “I know you’re hurt, but you’re alive.” That person informed him that many others weren’t as fortunate.
The FBI has classified the incident as an act of terrorism. The attacker, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove his truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street early that morning before being shot by police. Officials revealed that Jabbar had an ISIS flag in his vehicle and had pledged allegiance to the terrorist group in social media posts shortly before the tragic event.
Among the victims were individuals from various backgrounds, including Nicole Perez, a mother, aspiring nurse Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, former Princeton football player Martin “Tiger” Bech, and dedicated father Reggie Hunter. Each of their stories highlights the personal tragedies stemming from that horrific attack.
