Drew Dauphin, a 2023 Auburn University graduate who was killed at the New Year’s attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, was flown back to Montgomery on the evening of Jan. 10. Dauphin earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity.
The Union Bank of Switzerland, where his mother Margaret Dauphin works, flew Dauphin's family to New Orleans on Jan. 10 to retrieve his body and bring him back to Montgomery. Gov. Kay Ivey shared through a Facebook post that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency escorted Dauphin and his family from the Montgomery Regional Airport to a funeral home in Montgomery.
“On behalf of Auburn University, I send my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of 2023 graduate Drew Dauphin who was taken from us in the New Orleans attack,” university President Christopher B. Roberts wrote across Auburn University’s social media on Jan. 2. “Words cannot convey the sorrow the Auburn Family feels for Drew’s family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time. Our thoughts are with the Dauphin family and the families of all the victims of this senseless tragedy.”
Dauphin was born and raised in Montgomery and graduated from Alabama Christian Academy in 2016 before attending Auburn University. After graduating with his degree in 2023, Dauphin moved to Birmingham, AL to work at the Honda Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, AL.
Dauphin is one of the 14 dead after US Army veteran and US citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar intentionally drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the early morning of Jan. 1. Jabbar later left the vehicle and began shooting firearms before being killed by police officers. The attack injured 35 people.
Jabbar also placed two improvised explosive devices along the French Quarter, but neither detonated. Inside the vehicle, an ISIS flag and another IED were located.
Greg Alford, a family friend and coworker of Margaret Dauphin at UBS, created a GoFundMe to raise funds for funeral expenses and additional costs. Through the GoFundMe, Dauphin’s family released a statement regarding his death.
“It’s unbelievable. Who should have to come up with words for this? Our family is suffering more than anyone can imagine. Drew lit up every room he entered. His smile was infectious. He had the best personality,” the statement read. “We are such a tight family, dependent on each other, friends, family, and neighbors. We cherish the 26 years that we had with him, and raising him will always be one of the greatest joys of our lives. Our family is numb and in shock through this horrific and senseless tragedy.”
Dauphin loved spending time with his brother at Lake Martin and listening to music. Dauphin traveled to New Orleans with his younger brother to attend a Billy Strings concert, one of his favorite musicians.
Billy Strings, a bluegrass and country musician, tweeted on X social media about Dauphin and reposted the GoFundMe fundraiser. Strings’ grandfather’s race car number and also Strings’ lucky number is 33. On the GoFundMe fundraiser, hundreds of donations of $33 have been made to honor Dauphin.
On Jan. 6, Dauphin’s family traveled to New Orleans to meet with President Joe Biden, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and the other victims’ families. On Jan. 8, New Orleans and Alabama designated the day to be Drew Dauphin Day as a day of remembrance of Dauphin.
As of Jan. 11, the fundraiser has raised $56k of the $70k goal.
Dauphin will be laid to rest on Jan. 12 in Montgomery. Anyone interested in donating to the family’s funeral expenses can click here.
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Michaela Yielding is a senior in journalism currently serving as the news editor. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since fall 2023.
