‘Just in shock’: Kansas woman nearly caught in deadly New Orleans attack

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - As the investigation into the deadly attack on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street continues Thursday, many across the country remain in shock. Including Ashley Butcher of Pittsburg, Kansas.

Butcher, her husband and two friends made their way to the Big Easy to ring in the new year.

“We were there last year, also,” Butcher said.

But the annual tradition left her devastated after a driver plowed into a crowd of New Year’s Day celebrators, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens of others.

“We were all just in shock more than anything,” she explained.

Butcher says they left Bourbon Street at approximately 2:30 a.m. to return to their nearby Airbnb.

Police say the attack happened at about 3:15 a.m.

“We went to bed and the next morning we woke up to many phone calls and text messages from friends and family,” Butcher explained. “My mom said she was looking on Life360 to make sure we weren’t at a hospital.”

Thankfully, they are physically ok.

But the group of friends are still wrapping their heads around the mass casualty.

Butcher says she started 2024 at the Kansas City Chiefs championship rally when a mass shooting erupted, killing one and injuring more than two dozen in February.

Unfortunately, she marks the beginning of a new year just miles away from another attack.

“It really kind of bogs you down mentally. My mind races but I am just happy we were not there when that happened,” Butcher said. “It really makes you wonder, especially when you are in larger crowds like we were this weekend, you just never really know what is going to happen. You have to be vigilant. You really do.”

Butcher made her way back to Kansas on Thursday.

She says she plans to return to New Orleans again soon.

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.