A student from San Diego State University was among those injured in the deadly New Year's Day attack in New Orleans, NBC 7 confirmed.
Local media in South Florida report Steele Idelson from Fort Myers was taken to the hospital after the attack.
SDSU confirmed to NBC 7 that Idelson is a current student but couldn't share more information.
Idelson was visiting New Orleans with a friend from high school, Elle Eisele. Idelson graduated from Canterbury School in Fort Meyers in 2023 before heading off across the country for SDSU.
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Canterbury released the following statement on behalf of their families hours after it learned the two were severely injured in the attack.
“The Eisele and Idelson families are deeply grateful for the outpouring of thoughts, prayers, and offers of support for our daughters following the tragic attack in New Orleans. We are especially thankful for the exceptional care and compassion they are receiving at University Medical Center. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the first responders, whose swift actions may have saved our daughters’ lives. To everyone who has reached out with love and support, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
The best news came Thursday when Eisele's family shared with NBC 7's sister station in Fort Meyers that "Elle and her lifelong friend Steele are survivors from this senseless act. They are stable and will be okay, but both have a long road ahead of them. Please pray for our girls and for the others impacted."
Local
The attack happened just after 3 a.m. on Wednesday along Bourbon Street. A driver in a pickup truck flying an ISIS flag sped through a crowd of pedestrians in New Orleans' bustling French Quarter district, killing 15 and injuring 30 in an act being investigated as a terrorist attack.
The driver was killed in a firefight with police following the attack, the FBI said. After the vehicle came to a stop, he emerged from the truck and opened fire on responding officers, New Orleans police said. Officers returned fire, striking and killing him, police said.
He has been preliminarily identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, law enforcement officials told NBC News.
Guns and pipe bombs were found in the vehicle, according to a Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. The devices, which were concealed within coolers, were wired for remote detonation, the bulletin said, and a corresponding remote control was discovered inside the vehicle.
For the latest updates on the New Orleans attack, click here.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information arrives.
