New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has donated $100,000 to support the victims of the deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
Fifteen people were killed and at least 30 were injured in an act of terrorism when 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove down Bourbon Street in a rented truck around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1. Jabbar, a US citizen from Texas, was “inspired” by the Islamic State, President Joe Biden said. According to the FBI, the suspect had a gang flag in the truck he was using and was killed in a police shootout.
On Friday, Jan. 3, ESPN’s Malika Andrews reported that Williamson, 24, donated $100,000 to the Greater New Orleans Tragedy Foundation. The fund is “raising money to help victims’ families and survivors begin to recover from this heartbreaking tragedy,” according to the official site.
“As a father, a son and someone who loves the community, this really hit home for me. It’s not just about the money, it’s about standing together and making sure no one feels alone,” Williamson told ESPN.
The Pelicans shared Andrews’ report on their Instagram stories. The team is scheduled to play in New Orleans against the Washington Wizards on Friday, January 3rd.
“I’m devastated,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green told reporters a few hours after the attack, according to the Associated Press. He described it as a “senseless act of violence” and said he had discussed the attack with his players.
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Zion Williamson on November 1, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Williamson, a native of Salisbury, NC, was selected by the Pelicans as the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. In 2022, the former Duke University player signed a contract extension worth $197.23 million, with the intention of keeping him with the team through the 2027-28 season, according to The Bleacher Report.
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Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies work at the scene of an attack on Bourbon Street on January 1, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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The Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans was scheduled to be played on New Year’s Day, but was postponed to Thursday. Before the game, University of Georgia and Notre Dame players joined the crowd in a moment of silence for the victims of the attack.
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University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead noted that one of the university’s students was also “critically injured” in the attack and was “receiving medical attention.” Other victims of the attack are Nicole Perez, mother of a four-year-old; Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an aspiring nurse; former Princeton football player Martin “Tiger” Bech; and Reggie Hunter, the proud father, reports the BBC.
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Source: HIS Education