Olivia Dunne has revealed she and boyfriend Paul Skenes were in New Orleans the night of the Bourbon Street terror attack after sharing chilling images of her New Year’s celebrations.
On New Year’s Day the LSU gymnastics sensation posted two photos of a night out in Louisiana, yet they both appear to be from the previous evening.
In the images, Dunne was wearing the same outfit as in a TikTok video dated December 31.
She and MLB-star boyfriend Skenes were first pictured alongside his Pittsburgh teammate Bubba Chandler and partner Allie Enright at a bar.
Dunne also posted a second image, which appeared to show a packed Bourbon Street hours before the deadly attack, along with a heartbroken emoji.
It is unclear when exactly the group were on Bourbon Street, though the large crowds – seemingly in fine spirits – would suggest it was prior to the attack.
Olivia Dunne (right) has revealed she and boyfriend Paul Skenes (second from right) were in New Orleans with some friends the night of the Bourbon Street terror attack
Dunne shared a photo of Bourbon Street which appears to be hours before the terror attack
She was wearing the same outfit on her night out as in a TikTok video dated December 31
The famous street was also lined with Georgia flags in the photo. The Bulldogs were slated to face Notre Dame in the College Football Playoffs in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, but the game was postponed until Thursday in the wake of the tragedy.
New Orleans is reeling from the fatal attack which claimed the lives of 15 and left 35 injured after a terrorist ploughed a vehicle into a large crowd celebrating the New Year on Bourbon Street.
Driver Shamsud Din Jabbar, who was killed in a resulting shootout with police, rammed into the group at high speed before getting out and firing a weapon, witnesses said. Investigators also found what appeared to be improvised explosives at the crash site that did not detonate.
The FBI said the driver of the vehicle was Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen and Army veteran from Texas. They are investigating the massacre ‘as an act of terrorism’ and New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell described it as a ‘terrorist attack’.
An ISIS flag and weapons were found inside the vehicle, as the FBI continues to assess Jabbar’s connection to the terror group.
Guns and pipe bombs were found in the suspect’s vehicle, according to the State Police bulletin.
The devices were concealed within coolers and wired for remote detonation with a remote control that also was found in the vehicle, the bulletin said.
The attack in New Orleans comes just under six weeks before the city is scheduled to host this year’s Super Bowl on February 9, which has raised concerns amongst NFL fans ahead of the 2025 showpiece.
Dunne, the LSU gymnast and TikTok sensation, and MLB star Skenes have dated for over a year
New Orleans is reeling after a terrorist ploughed a vehicle into a large crowd, killing 15 people
Yet in a statement about the horrific events that played out on Bourbon Street, the league stressed that Super Bowl LIX will still be a safe event at Caesars Superdome after two years of ‘comprehensive security plans’ were put together.
‘We are deeply saddened by the news of the devastating incident in New Orleans,’ an NFL statement read. ‘Our thoughts are with the victims, the New Orleans community and all those affected.
‘The NFL and the local host committee have been working collaboratively with local, state and federal agencies the past two years and have developed comprehensive security plans.
‘These planning sessions will continue as they do with all major NFL events and we are confident attendees will have a safe and enjoyable Super Bowl experience.’
