New Year’s Day New Orleans attack victim with Philly ties is ‘stable and resting,’ according to family

Ryan Quigley, one of the nearly three dozen people injured in the New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans’ French Quarter that left 14 revelers dead, is on the road to recovery, his mother told The Inquirer on Thursday.

Quigley, 26, was often featured in The Inquirer for his athletic feats as a two-time MVP of the Philadelphia Catholic League. He graduated from Lansdale Catholic High School in 2016 and continued to play football for Princeton University, where he met and shared the field with Louisiana-raised Tiger Bech between the 2016 and 2018 seasons.

Bech and Quigley remained close friends, according to a GoFundMe set up by the families.

They were in New Orleans to ring in the new year when Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, bypassed police cars closing off Bourbon Street to traffic and barreled down three blocks full of people just after 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Bech was killed and Quigley was left injured in what federal authorities are investigating as an act of terrorism.

Quigley remains hospitalized but stable, his mother, Kelley Quigley, said in a brief call Thursday. She did not describe the extent of his injuries, deferring further comment until her son can speak for himself. She said her son’s football community, including teammates and coaches, had been sharing their support.

A GoFundMe that is now closed raised more than $79,500 for Quigley’s recovery journey and to aid in Bech’s funeral expenses.

“To provide an update, Ryan is doing okay,” said a Thursday update from the Quigleys. “He is stable and resting in the company of his family and friends.”

Well-wishes have come pouring in from Quigley’s and Bech’s alma maters and football communities after the attack.

“Ryan is one of those young people that makes you incredibly proud to call him one of your own, and the collective hearts of our close knit high school community are hurting for him and his family as we pray for his healing,” read a Lansdale Catholic statement.

In a statement, Princeton University football coach Bob Surace said Bech embodied his name on and off the field.

“He was a ‘Tiger’ in every way — a ferocious competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend,” Surace said.

Billy DiMaio, who graduated Chestnut Hill College in 2022 with a master’s degree, was another reveler with Philly-area ties killed in the attack. The 25-year-old worked for the media company Audacy in New York City. He was in New Orleans with friends to see the Sugar Bowl, which was originally slated to take place on the evening of Jan. 1.

“Beyond his professional achievements, Billy will be fondly remembered for his unwavering work ethic, positive attitude, and kindness,” Audacy, which is based in Philadelphia, said in an emailed statement. “He was a true asset to the Audacy team, and his contributions and presence will be deeply missed.”

Jabbar, an Army veteran from Houston, was killed in a shootout with authorities the morning of the attack. His motives are still under FBI investigation, though authorities believe he acted alone.

“This was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act,” said Christopher Raia, the deputy assistant director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division, calling Jabbar “100% inspired” by the Islamic State.

This article contains information from the Associated Press.