Holmdel community remembers lacrosse standout killed in New Orleans attack
HOLMDEL, New Jersey (WABC) -- The Monmouth County community's hearts are broken after learning a standout athlete, son and brother, 25-year-old Billy DiMaio from Holmdel, New Jersey, was one of the victims killed in the New Year's Day terrorist act in New Orleans.
Family, friends and those who knew him well are remembering him for all the lives he touched within his community, including DiMaio's best friend and roommate in Hoboken, Troy Gallo.
He told Eyewitness News that he was with DiMaio in New Orleans before the attack.
"We decided to go down to New Orleans for New year's Eve and potentially go watch the Notre Dame, Georgia game, and we flew in that Tuesday, and that's why we're there," Gallo said.
Gallo recounted the last text message he received from DiMaio early Wednesday morning.
"I remember I received a missed phone call from him at about 3:17 a.m.," Gallo said. "At 3:19 a.m. I tried to call him and text him back to find where he was, and then at that point, went to leave the bar, and at that point the bouncers were shutting us inside. Not letting us leave. It took them a couple minutes to say that there was a shooting outside and I still didn't really know the severity of the shooting, I figured it was a one-off incident, obviously nothing as bad as what actually happened. And by the time they let us out, I just walked out to mayhem on the street and pretty much just ran to the nearest safe zone before I started to look for my friend."
It wasn't until the next day that Gallo and his friends learned that DiMaio was among the victims.
DiMaio's parents Bill and Tracie DiMaio are heartbroken.
"Billy had a smile that could light up a room, and his laughter was truly infectious," the family said in a statement. "His energetic personality inspired everyone around him. He cared for others more than himself and, as the oldest brother to Samantha and Anthony held a unique and irreplaceable role in their lives as wells as cousins and friends. He will be dearly missed."
Gallo said that despite the tragedy, DiMaio's family is holding up well.
"My parents reached out and they weren't even expecting a reply, and they received such a nice message back from them that goes to show that they are still thinking about other people. It's amazing. They're an amazing family," Gallo said.
Gallo said DiMaio himself was an "amazing person."
"I know people always say that after things like this, but if you ask anyone that knew him, they'd say the same thing while he was here," Gallo said. "Hard worker, he talked about the future often. He just got promoted at work, he was a former athlete. Just treated his friends and family so well, that's really all he cared about. And he was just a fantastic person overall and just had a pure heart."
DiMaio graduated in 2022 from Chestnut Hill College where he was midfielder on the lacrosse team, the athletic director told Eyewitness News.
RELATED | Family, friends mourn deaths of 3 men killed in New Orleans attack
DiMaio's club lacrosse coach Nick Caruso told Eyewitness News that Team 91, based in Tinton Falls, recently brought DiMaio back to help coach their 8 and 9-year-old because he could control the chaos with his calm and kind demeanor
At his former high school, students learned of the 2017 graduate's tragic death.
In a statement, Holmdel High School superintendent said, "we extend our deepest condolences to the DiMaio family and all those affected by this senseless act of violence."
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