“No one is immune”: Mississippi Congressman reacts to the New Orleans terrorist attack

Victims of the attack included 18-year old Gulfport resident Nikyra Dedeaux, who was an aspiring nursing student. According to Nola.com, Dedeaux was not supposed to have gone to New Orleans. She sneaked there with a cousin and friend.  

Another victim was 25-year old Matthew Tenedorio, who previously lived in Carriere. According to a GoFundMe campaign, Tenedorio graduated from Pearl River Central High School. Nola.com reportsthat he later moved to New Orleans, where he worked as an audiovisual technician at the Superdome. 

A University of Mississippi student was among those who were critically injured in the attack. 

U.S. Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s third district. He said the attack hits “close to home.”

“The fact that New Orleans is so close to Mississippi, so many of us visit New Orleans on a regular occasion… to have a city here so close to us be the subject of a terrorist attack was extremely disturbing,” Guest said.

Guest is the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security. He says Mississippi has begun sending resources to Louisiana to assist in the investigations surrounding the attack.

“State and some local law enforcement agencies from the Mississippi Gulf Coast are sending manpower to New Orleans to help them,” Guest said. “There's also been an increased federal presence.”

The FBI field office in Jackson confirmed they have sent agents to Louisiana, adding to the total of 65 FBI agents and more than 100 Homeland Security personnel deployed to New Orleans. 

Guest says there were clear indications this attack was an act of terrorism.

“The suspect who was killed by law enforcement actually posted videos online hours before the attack, pledging his allegiance to ISIS,” he said. “There was an ISIS flag that was recovered. We know that the individual also was in possession of homemade explosive devices, IEDs. Based upon the investigation, it was apparent very quickly that this was an individual who had been radicalized.”

During a press conference, the FBI said it has no indication that Jabbar had help from other people in carrying out the attack. 

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry issued a state of emergency in response to the terrorist attack.  

“This just goes to show that these types of attacks can happen in any city across the country,” Guest said. “No one is immune.” 

Guest added, “People need to be aware, not necessarily afraid, but they need to be aware of their surroundings, aware of their environment, and make sure that they take all due caution that they can to keep themselves safe.”