British man killed in Bourbon Street attack had ties to Royal Family: report
New details regarding New Orleans terror attack
A memorial in honor of the victims continues to grow while others are still trying to process Wednesday's truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. LiveNOW's Austin Westfall checks in with Fox News multimedia reporter Sarah Alegre on how people are reacting to the tragic incident. Retired Marine intelligence officer Hal Kempfer also joins to discuss the latest details regarding the investigation.
The stepson of Prince William’s former nanny was among the 14 people killed in the New Orleans Bourbon Street attack on New Year’s Day.
According to the BBC, 31-year-old Edward Pettifer was visiting New Orleans for the holidays. He was struck by the truck driven by Shamsud-Din Jabbar and died from blunt force trauma, the coroner’s office said.
Pettifer’s stepmom, Alexandra "Tiggy" Pettifer, was a nanny for William and Harry in the ‘90s, BBC reports.
Edward Pettifer (Metropolitan Police)
"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pettifer family and all those innocent people who have been tragically impacted by this horrific attack," Prince William said in a prepared statement.
Sources told the BBC that King Charles has also been in touch with Pettifer’s family.
RELATED: Bulletin reportedly warns of Bourbon Street copycat attacks
Authorities say 14 people were killed and about 30 were injured in the attack early Wednesday by Jabbar, a former Army soldier who posted several videos on his Facebook hours before the attack previewing the violence he would unleash and proclaiming his support for the Islamic State militant group. The coroner’s office listed the cause of death for all 14 victims as "blunt force injuries."
Jabbar, 42, was fatally shot in a firefight with police at the scene of the deadly crash on Bourbon Street, famous worldwide for its festive vibes in New Orleans' historic French Quarter.
RELATED: New Orleans truck attack: What we know about the victims
Authorities found crude bombs that had been planted in the neighborhood in an apparent attempt to cause more carnage. Two improvised explosive devices left in coolers several blocks apart were rendered safe at the scene, officials said. Other devices were determined to be nonfunctional.
The FBI released screenshots from surveillance footage showing Shamsud-Din Jabbar an hour before the truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans early on Jan. 1, 2025. (Credit: Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Authorities on Friday were still investigating Jabbar's motives and how he carried out the attack. They say he exited the crashed truck wearing a ballistic vest and helmet and fired at police, wounding at least two officers before he was fatally shot by officers returning fire.
New Orleans attack latest
Federal authorities searching the home of Jabbar in Houston Friday found a workbench in the garage and hazardous materials believed to have been used to make explosive devices, law enforcement sources told The Associated Press.
The FBI investigation also revealed that Jabbar purchased a cooler in Vidor, Texas, hours before the attack and gun oil from a store in Sulphur, Louisiana, the officials said. Authorities also determined Jabbar booked his rental of the pickup truck on Nov. 14, suggesting he may have been plotting the attack for more than six weeks.