Former Princeton football star Martin “Tiger” Bech was killed in a shooting in New Orleans on January 1, his brother Jack Bech confirmed on social media.
“I always love you bro,” Jack shared in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) hours after the attack. “You inspired me (every day) now you can be with me at all times. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us.”
Tiger’s death was also confirmed by his mother Michelle Bech to ABC News. She told the newspaper that her son lived life to the fullest and was “on top of the world”.
She said Tiger was in Louisiana over the weekend hunting and fishing with college friends from Princeton and was scheduled to fly back to New York on Wednesday, Jan. 1, the afternoon before the attack happened.
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Tiger played for the Princeton Tigers before starting a career in finance.
Princeton Tigers
Tiger, 28, was an All-Ivy League player, spending three seasons at Princeton from 2016-18. After graduating, he worked as a trader at Seaport Global, a capital markets firm in New York, according to his mother, Michelle, told ABC News. Meanwhile, Jack, 22, has emerged as one of the top receivers in the country in 2024 playing for the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs.
Prior to Princeton, Tiger played football at St. Thomas Moore High School in Lafayette, LA. The school held a service to honor his life in which Marty Cannon, the school’s principal, remembered him as “special”.
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“I don’t think there’s ever been anyone like Tiger,” he told USA Today. “Between the athlete and the depth and the character and the way he carried himself, he was a special guy.”
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Princeton football coach Bob Surace issued a statement saying he was a “Tiger” in every way.
“[He was] a fierce competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend. Our last conversation was about how proud I am of the growth he’s shown during his time at Princeton and the success he’s had since graduation. My love goes out to the entire Bech family,” the coach added.
A GoFundMe has also been set up to “pay tribute” to the sports star. The fundraiser, which has already raised over $79,000, called Tiger an “amazing” young man.
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Tiger Bech played wide receiver for the Princeton Tigers.
Sportswire icon via AP Images
The death toll in the deadly attack has now risen to at least 15 people, the FBI announced on January 1. The deceased suspect has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US citizen from Texas, the FBI said in a statement.
The FBI also confirmed the presence of an apparent ISIS flag in the Ford pickup truck used in the attack to drive through crowds celebrating New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education