The last words of a young man killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack to his sister were: “Happy New Year, I love you.”
Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, died along with 13 others celebrating the first hours of 2025 on Bourbon Street in the city’s historic French Quarter on Wednesday.
US Army veteran and ISIS recruit Shamsud Din Jabbar rammed a pickup truck into a crowd around 3:15 a.m., then got out and shot others as they fled.
Hubert, from Marrero outside New Orleans, went into town to celebrate with friends but never returned.
He sent his last message at 12:08 a.m. to his sister Brooke Gauthreaux, a student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
‘Happy New Year, I love you!’ she replied, to which Hubert replied “I love you too.”
Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, died along with 13 others celebrating the first hours of 2025 on Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter on Wednesday.
US Army veteran and ISIS recruit Shamsud Din Jabbar rammed a pickup truck into a crowd around 3:15 a.m., then got out and shot others as they fled.
Gauthreaux’s last words to his sister Brooke were “Happy New Year, I love you.”
Hubert’s family gathered at the scene of the massacre on Friday and walked hand in hand down Bourbon Street, under a police escort.
Brooke collapsed with emotion as they walked, bringing tears to even the officers escorting them, and spoke at a memorial that was forming at the site.
‘The memory of your love and kindness will remain in our hearts forever. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers,’ he said on behalf of the family.
He described his little brother as someone who loved deeply, gave generously and brought joy to everyone who knew him.
The Hubert family frantically shared social media posts about his disappearance after the attack, before revealing that he was found dead in a hospital.
‘Child disappeared due to CF madness! Please BOLO!!!’ one wrote, believing he was simply caught up in the chaos.
The posts became tributes as the family came to terms with his death in the hours and days after the suicide attack.
He sent his last message at 12:08 a.m. to his sister Brooke Gauthreaux, a student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Hubert with Brooke at his Archbishop Shaw High School graduation in 2021
Brooke collapsed with emotion as they walked, bringing tears even to the officers escorting them, and spoke at a memorial service that formed at the scene.
‘I woke up yesterday and a part of me was gone. My sweet and selfless little brother. “You deserved so much better than this,” Brooke wrote.
‘I don’t know how I’m supposed to go on without you. Without waiting for a random call from you just to talk for an hour while driving home, to ask for advice, to vent, or to get your shitty ass out of trouble.
“Without asking you a favor and dropping everything to help me or coming to and from Lafayette to pick me up or drop me off.”
Brooke wrote that she was looking forward to Hubert’s two-and-a-half-hour ride back to campus on Friday.
‘You are so loved by everyone you have touched in this world. “I am very proud to be your big sister,” she wrote.
Hubert, from Marrero outside New Orleans, went to the city to celebrate with friends, but never returned
Hubert’s name was added to a mural on Bourbon Street started by Roberto Márquez, which bears the names of the 14 victims.
A group of friends mourn the loss of Hubert Gauthreaux, whose photograph is placed on a wooden cross, among others who lost their lives.
‘I would do anything to come back and be in the stands supporting you on the baseball diamond. We’re back to complaining about taking you and your friends everywhere, but always doing it anyway.
‘Nothing seems real anymore. Part of me just hopes you’ll walk through the door with that witty little smile and give me a hug. I already miss you so much.’
Family friend Amy Foy shared a photo of Hubert’s first tattoo on October 18, heartbreakingly showing the gates of Heaven shining behind a white dove and three dice.
“We love you sweet angel and we will miss you dearly,” he wrote.
Hubert’s name was added to a mural on Bourbon Street started by Roberto Marquez, which bears the names of the 14 victims.
Gavin Gauthreaux (right) and his son Hubert in a photo he shared after his death
Hubert with his sister when they were children in a photo shared online after his death
Family friend Amy Foy shared a photo of Hubert’s first tattoo on October 18, heartbreakingly showing the pearly gates shining behind a white dove and three dice.
Hubert with his mother when he was a baby
The young man’s former school, Archbishop Shaw High School, said: “It is with great sadness that we share that student Hubert Gauthreaux, Class of 2021, tragically died in the senseless act of violence that occurred early this morning in the French Quarter.
‘I was 21 years old. We are asking the entire Archbishop Shaw family to pray for the repose of the soul of Hubert, his family and friends during this difficult time, and for all those affected by this tragedy.’
New Orleans on Friday released the names of 12 of the 14 victims, but two remain unidentified. Another 35 people were injured.
The victims were: Edward Pettifer, Brandon Taylor, Elliot Wilkinson, Terrence ‘Terry’ Kennedy, William ‘Billy’ DiMaio, Hubert Gauthreaux, Kareem Badawi, Andrew ‘Drew’ Dauphin, Matthew Tenedorio, Nikyra Dedeaux, Reggie Hunter, Martin ‘Tiger’ Bech and Nicole Pérez.