Tragedy struck New Orleans on the first day of the new year, as a man intentionally drove a truck into a crowd and killed 15 people on Bourbon street at 3:15 AM CT Wednesday. And among the victims is a former Princeton football player by the name, Martin "Tiger" Bech, who was just 27 years old.
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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, who is the athletic director at the high school Bech attended, St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, is the one that confirmed his death.
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, who is a standout wide receiver at Texas Christian University, released a statement 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 playing days at Princeton (2017-2019), Tiger was both a receiver and an All-Ivy League kick returner. Throughout his career, Bech caught 53 passes for 825 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Princeton head coach Bob Surace spoke on what kind of player Tiger was for the team.
"He might be the first Tiger to ever play for us, and that nickname kind of described him as a competitor," Surace said. "He was somebody that somehow, like in the key moments, just excelled and was full of energy, full of life."
According to reports, Bech graduated with a degree in finance at Princeton and was an up-and-coming businessman. He was working as a stockbroker in New York and had just been visiting New Orleans on holiday.
The driver of the truck, who killed 15 and injured more than 30, has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar. He is a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas, who is believed to have ties with ISIS, as the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism (per CBS News).
To note, following this attack, Jabbar was killed after engaging in a firefight with police.
Ultimately, this terror attack has brought much despair to the victims and their families, as America grieves for Bech and the others who 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 school principal at Bech's alma mater St. Thomas More, Marty Cannon, gave a tribute statement honoring Tiger's life:
"I don't think there's ever been anybody like Tiger," Cannon said. "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 held himself, he was a special guy."
A prayer service was held for Bech, as Cannon noted that's the best thing they can do while mourning one of their own.
Cannon concluded, "Tiger left a huge mark on a lot of us. We can go on and on about how great of an athlete he was, but he was way more than that. He was a complete guy, and he was a standup guy that we really respected, honored and really liked. I can only imagine that it gives some consolation and some healing to the Bech family."
Due to the tragedy happening hours before the Allstate Sugar Bowl (Georgia vs. Notre Dame), which was set to take place in New Orleans' Caesars Superdome, the game has been postponed.
Related: Sugar Bowl Postponed In Wake Of Deadly Attack In New Orleans
