On the first day of the new year, New Orleans faced a devastating incident when a man deliberately drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals at approximately 3:15 AM CT on Wednesday. Among the deceased is Martin “Tiger” Bech, a former Princeton football player, who was only 27 years old.
Princeton Football mourns the loss of Tiger Bech ‘21.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all of the victims of the Bourbon Street attack. https://t.co/aLWMyd57lL pic.twitter.com/nUjzXUO3yT
— Princeton Football (@PrincetonFTBL) January 1, 2025
Kim Broussard, the athletic director at Bech’s former high school, St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, confirmed his passing.
According to KLFY 10 news, “Tiger Bech died late Wednesday morning after he was placed on life support until his family could arrive.”
Tiger Bech’s younger brother, Jack Bech, a prominent wide receiver at Texas Christian University, shared a message on X following the tragic news:
“Love you always brother. You inspired me (every day) now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us.”
During his tenure at Princeton from 2017 to 2019, Tiger was not only a receiver but also an All-Ivy League kick returner. Over his college career, he recorded 53 receptions for 825 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Princeton head coach Bob Surace reflected on Tiger’s contributions to the team.
“He might be the first Tiger to ever play for us, and that nickname kind of described him as a competitor,” Surace remarked. “He was someone who excelled in crucial moments, full of energy and life.”
Reports indicate that Bech graduated with a finance degree from Princeton and was on the rise in the business world. He had been working as a stockbroker in New York and was visiting New Orleans for a vacation.
The individual responsible for the attack, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, is a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas who reportedly has connections to ISIS, prompting the FBI to treat this incident as an act of terrorism (per CBS News).
It is worth noting that Jabbar was killed during a confrontation with the police following the incident.
This act of terror has cast a shadow of grief over the victims and their families, as the nation mourns for Bech and the others who tragically lost their lives.
JUST IN: The first names of NYE attack victims have been released.
• Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an 18-year-old recent HS graduate
• Tiger Bech, 27-year-old former football star for Princeton University
• Reggie Hunter, 37-year-old father of two from Baton RougeR.I.P. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/gVPFucShKa
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) January 1, 2025
The principal of St. Thomas More, Marty Cannon, paid tribute to Tiger’s life:
“I don’t think there’s ever been anybody like Tiger,” Cannon stated. “I don’t think there’s ever going to be anybody like him because, between the athlete and the depth and the character and just the way he carried himself, he was extraordinary.”
A prayer service was organized in Tiger’s memory, as Cannon noted that it is the best way to honor one of their own during this difficult time.
Cannon added, “Tiger left a significant impact on many of us. We could speak endlessly about his athletic prowess, but he was so much more than that. He was a complete person, a standup individual that we truly respected and admired. I believe this will bring some degree of comfort and healing to the Bech family.”
Due to the timing of this tragedy, which occurred just hours before the Allstate Sugar Bowl (Georgia vs. Notre Dame) set to take place at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome, the game has been postponed.
Image Source: CBS News @ YouTube
