Prince William 'shocked and saddened' by death of former nanny's stepson in New Orleans attack

Edward Pettifer, 31 from London was among 14 people killed in New Orleans when a pick up truck drove into a crowd on New Year's Day as ITV News' Caroline Lewis reports

Prince William has said he and Catherine are "shocked and saddened" by the death of his former nanny's stepson in the New Orleans attack.

Ed Pettifer, the 31-year-old stepson of William and Harry's former nanny Tiggy Pettifer (formerly Legge-Bourke), was one of the 14 people killed in the truck attack on January 1 that left dozens more injured.

Mr Pettifer's half brother, Tom, is a godson to William and was a page boy at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011.

In a statement, Prince of Wales said: “Catherine and I have been shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Ed Pettifer.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pettifer family and all those innocent people who have been tragically impacted by this horrific attack.”

Mr Pettifer was the eldest son of Charles Pettifer, a former Coldstream Guards officer, and Camilla Wyatt, the daughter of a racehorse breeder.

Ed Pettifer (right) attended Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018 with his family Credit: ITV News

King Charles is said to be "deeply saddened" at the news and is understood to have been in touch with the Pettifer family to pass on his condolences.

Mr Pettifer's family said they were "devastated" by the death of "a wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew and a friend to so many."

“We will all miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with the other families who have lost their family members due to this terrible attack. We request that we can grieve the loss of Ed as a family in private. Thank you," Mr Pettifer's family said.

The Met Police said its Terrorism Command "are supporting the family of a UK national killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack".

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said, "We are supporting the family of a British National who has died in New Orleans and are in contact with local authorities."

The New Orleans coroner also released the names of the majority of victims in the attack:

  • Andrew Dauphin, 26, from Montgomery, Alabama

  • Kareem Badawi, 23, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana

  • Brandon Taylor, 43, from Harvey, Louisiana

  • Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, from Gretna, Louisiana

  • Matthew Tenedorio, 25, from Picayune, Mississippi

  • Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, from Gulfport, Mississippi

  • Nicole Perez, 27, from Metairie, Louisiana

  • Reggie Hunter, 37, from Prairieville, Louisiana

  • Martin Bech, 27, from New York

  • Terrence Kennedy, 63, from New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Elliot Wilkinson, 40, from Slidell, Louisiana

  • William Dimaio, 25, from Holmdel, New Jersey

A memorial for the victims of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in the French Quarter of New Orleans Credit: AP

The coroner noted that they are continuing to identify one other victim.

Thirty-five people were injured in the attack.

In the early hours of January 1, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, drove a pickup truck flying an Islamic State (IS) flag into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring 35 others. After a shootout with police, Jabbar was also killed.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar was a US citizen and army veteran born in Texas.

Christopher Raia of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division said investigations were still ongoing, and they currently do not believe anyone else was involved in what he called a "senseless attack".

New Orleans police and federal agents investigate a deadly New Year's Day truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Wednesday. Credit: AP
America shaken by carnage at start of 2025

Before the attack, the FBI revealed that a series of social media posts had been made by Jabbar proclaiming his support for the terrorist organisation.

Investigators found guns and improvised explosive devices in the vehicle. The FBI said they had recovered CCTV of Jabbar placing two improvised explosive devices in coolers in two separate locations.

The FBI have also recovered three phones and two laptops belonging to Jabbar.

The rampage on the festive Bourbon Street saw pedestrians fleeing for safety inside nightclubs and restaurants as the assailant ploughed into pedestrians.

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