Community Corner
5K Run & Walk Will Honor Holmdel Man Killed In New Orleans Terror Attack
Proceeds from the event will go towards a foundation created in his honor, which supports people across the U.S. impacted by mass violence.
HOLMDEL, NJ — A 5K run and walk set to take place in May will honor the life of Billy DiMaio, a Holmdel resident who was killed in the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans.
Billy DiMaio, 25, was a Holmdel High School graduate, notable lacrosse player and volunteer who was identified as one of the 14 people killed when a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s Day revelers on Bourbon Street in January 2025.
Following the terrorist attack, the Billy DiMaio Foundation was created in his memory, and today works to support individuals, families and communities across the U.S. impacted by mass violence by helping provide care, resources and hope in the aftermath of tragedy.
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“Billy’s kindness, warmth, and ability to bring people together continue to inspire everything we do,” the website reads. “...Through remembrance and action, we honor Billy’s legacy by standing with those who need it most.”
In February, the foundation announced the first annual Billy DiMaio 5K Run & Walk, which will take place in Holmdel on May 3.
Find out what's happening in Holmdel-Hazletfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Runners and walkers of all levels are invited to participate in the event, which will begin at 10 a.m. (with check-in starting at 8:30 a.m.) All proceeds will go to the Billy DiMaio Foundation.
“We are so excited to announce the First Annual Billy DiMaio 5K Run|Walk on May 3, 2026, in Holmdel, NJ!” the foundation said in an online post. “Join us for a run or walk in honor of Billy while supporting victims of mass violence.”
Since the New Year’s Day attack on Bourbon Street, local communities have come together across the country to remember and honor those who lost their lives.
In Holmdel, tributes have poured in for DiMaio, remembering him as “a remarkable young man on and off the field.”
Over the summer, DiMaio also became permanently enshrined in Holmdel’s history, as the Township renamed part of the Garden State Parkway Access Road as “Billy DiMaio Boulevard” in his honor.
In May, the Billy DiMaio 5K Run & Walk will kick off on that very boulevard. To register for the event or donate, you can click here.
To learn more about the Billy DiMaio Foundation, you can visit their website.
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