NEW ORLEANS, LA — New Orleans officials are still trying to piece together the details of the attack carried out by suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who used a rented Ford pickup truck to kill 14 people and injured about 35 others on New Year's Day. The incident took place in the city’s French Quarter and ended with Jabbar being killed in a shootout with police.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry spoke to the media Thursday afternoon, Jan. 2, comparing the investigation to "putting a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle together." While law enforcement has made progress, many details are still unclear, and authorities are going back to the drawing board from their initial understanding of the attack.
At first, investigators thought Jabbar may have had accomplices, but they now believe he acted alone. Officials also suspect that he may have planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the French Quarter before the attack, but this is still an assumption and not confirmed.
Jabbar was found with an ISIS flag in the bed of the truck, which raised concerns that the Islamic State could have inspired the attack. However, authorities have dismissed rumors that Jabbar was wearing a suicide vest. Law enforcement has made it clear that the attack was planned in advance, with FBI Assistant Director for Counter-Terrorism Christopher Raia calling it "a true act of terrorism."
FBI taking pictures of ISIS flag attached to pickup truck.
(Credit: x.com)
The FBI continues its investigation, focusing on potential leads in Jabbar’s home state of Texas and investigating people who may have known or served with him in the Army. Jabbar left the military in 2020 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
A video has surfaced on social media where he introduces himself as a property manager from Texas. In the video, he claims to have worked for the Midas Group and Blue Meadow Properties and mentions a 10-year tenure in the military as a human resources/IT specialist.
Reports indicate that court documents show Jabbar faced significant financial struggles following his 2022 divorce. Much of his income was allegedly consumed by unpaid mortgage payments and high credit card debt, leading him to push quickly for their divorce to settle. Reports state that Jabbar had a troubled family history and is believed to have played a role in shaping his later actions.
The attack happened at around 3:15 a.m. on New Year's Day at the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Streets. In addition to the mass truck assault, Jabbar also shot and injured two police officers as he exited the truck. Luckily, both officers are now in stable condition. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed that the attack was not related to impaired driving, describing it as a “complex and serious” situation.
Most of the victims are believed to be local residents.
The tragedy postponed the Sugar Bowl between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The game has been rescheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m. CST.
New Orleans officials assured the public that the French Quarter, including Bourbon Street, would reopen in time for the game. To enhance security, Superintendent Kirkpatrick announced that measures for the Sugar Bowl would now be the same as those planned for the Super Bowl, which New Orleans will also host in February.
The investigation is still ongoing.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: