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Tiger Bech, Former Princeton CFB Player, Killed in New Orleans Truck Attack

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 1, 2025

MOBILE, AL - FEBRUARY 01: A general view of Princeton helmet during the Reese's Senior Bowl American team practice session on February 1, 2023 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.  (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Former Princeton University football player Tiger Bech was among the people killed by a person who drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in the early morning hours of New Year's Day on Wednesday.

According to ESPN's Mark Schlabach, Bech's father, Martin Bech, and Princeton head football coach Bob Surace confirmed Bech's death.

Princeton Football @PrincetonFTBL

Princeton Football mourns the loss of Tiger Bech '21.<br><br>Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all of the victims of the Bourbon Street attack. <a href="https://t.co/aLWMyd57lL">https://t.co/aLWMyd57lL</a> <a href="https://t.co/nUjzXUO3yT">pic.twitter.com/nUjzXUO3yT</a>

Bech's brother, former TCU wide receiver Jack Bech, posted the following on X regarding Tiger's death:

Jack Bech @jackbech7

Love you always brother ! You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don't worry. This is for us ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/8sSFf564Mb">https://t.co/8sSFf564Mb</a>

Bech played at Princeton from 2016 to 2018, recording 53 receptions for 825 yards and three touchdowns as a wide receiver. He also twice earned All-Ivy League Second Team honors as a return specialist.

The Tigers won a pair of Ivy League titles during Bech's tenure in both 2016 and 2018.

Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Bech would have turned 28 on Jan. 28. While he recently began working as a stockbroker in New York, he was visiting family in New Orleans for the holidays.

Per CNN, the Bourbon Street attack occurred at around 3:15 a.m. local time when a truck drove through a crowd, killing at least 10 and injuring 35 others.

Authorities said the driver got out of the vehicle and fired gunshots at police officers before getting shot and killed. The FBI said "weapons and a potential IED" were found inside the truck and "other potential IEDs" were found near the scene.

The FBI identified 42-year-old Texas man Shamsud-Din Jabbar as the suspect and announced that it considered the attack "an act of terrorism."

The College Football Playoff quarterfinal and Sugar Bowl between second-seeded Georgia and seventh-seeded Notre Dame was scheduled to be played Wednesday night at 8:45 p.m. ET at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, but the game was postponed until Thursday as a result of the attack.