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Latin Times
Latin Times
National
Alicia Civita

Mother of Mexican New Orleans Victim, Nicole Pérez Issues A Heartbreaking Statement

En español

The names of the 15 victims of the New Orleans terrorist attack early on New Year's Day are starting to emerge. Among the fatalities on Bourbon Street is a 27-year-old Latina woman who leaves behind her 4-year-old son, Melo.

She has been identified as Nicole Pérez, a Mexican national who worked at Kimmy's Deli, a grocery store in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans.

"Nicole was hardworking and happy. She was very joyful with her son. He has lost his mother, and I have lost my daughter," her grieving mother told local media. Preferring to remain anonymous, Nicole's mother explained that she wanted to speak out to "raise awareness so that no other family has to go through this."

She added, "My daughter was devoted to her son and her home. Now she's gone. They took her away from me."

Nicole's employer at Kimmy's Deli, Kimberly Usher Fall, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support her family.

"It is with sadness that I write this GoFundMe. My friend and my manager of our store , Nicole, was killed this morning in the attack on New Orleans Bourbon Street. She was so beautiful and full of life.

Her son Melo is now without his momma, and we are without our friend and dedicated employee. I'm hoping to get some help for her burial expenses and to help her son with expenses he will need to transition into a new living situation.

If you can help, please do. If not, just pray. Pray for all the victims and their families and friends," Usher wrote.

In an interview with CBS, Usher described Nicole as "a dedicated worker, smart, happy, and a 'good-hearted person.'"

She also revealed that Nicole had been preparing to move into a new apartment and had been teaching Melo to read and learn basic math. "She really was a good kid, man, she really was. She was just getting everything going and she's gone, just gone."

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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