Prince William has expressed his deep shock at the recent tragic death of Edward Pettifer, the stepson of his former caretaker.
In the 1990s, Pettifer’s stepmother, Alexandra “Tiggy” Pettifer, née Legge-Bourke, was entrusted with the care of both Prince William and Prince Harry.
Tragically, Edward Pettifer was among the 14 people who lost their lives on 1 January in New Orleans’ iconic Bourbon Street, an area renowned for its vibrant bars, music venues, and strip clubs that are popular with tourists.
Reflecting on Pettifer’s death, Prince William conveyed that both he and his wife Princess Kate are “shocked” and “deeply saddened”.
Moreover, it has been reported that Prince Charles has also voiced his sorrow regarding the attack in New Orleans.
The incident involved Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old former army signal corps sergeant, who drove his pick-up truck into the crowded street, resulting in the deaths of 14 people and injuries to 39 more before being shot and killed by police.
Jabbar had worked as an accountant at the well-known accountancy firm Deloitte. However, he was reportedly plagued by marital struggles and financial challenges, having been through three divorces and faced obligations for child support and alimony.
According to The Guardian, these personal issues might have contributed to his drift towards religious extremism.
Prior to the attack, Jabbar had become increasingly fixated on religious doctrine– both right and wrong – and this fixation intensified following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023.
In SoundCloud recordings, Jabbar expressed beliefs linking rap music to the promotion of marijuana use and other intoxicants, which he felt led people away from God.
Christopher Raia, the FBI’s deputy assistant director of counter-terrorism, also confirmed that Jabbar had begun voicing support for the Islamic State (IS) terror group months before the attack.
