The suspect in the bloody New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed at least 10 people and injured 35 more is believed to be a U.S. Army veteran from Texas.
Federal investigators have identified Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, as the man who intentionally plowed his rented pickup truck into revelers on Bourbon Street around 3:15 a.m. as New Year’s bells rang out.
He died during a gunfight with police. Two officers were shot during the encounter and are in stable condition, officials said.
Live updates: FBI believes driver was not ‘solely responsible’ for New Orleans attack, IED found in car
Federal and local authorities are working together to determine the motive behind the attack and determine whether Mr. Jabbar acted alone or with the help of accomplices.
“This is more than just an act of terrorism. This is evil,” said New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.
Officials told reporters Wednesday afternoon that Jabbar swerved around a parked police car to prevent cars from approaching pedestrians celebrating on busy Bourbon Street. It happened when the car ran onto the sidewalk, officials said.
According to preliminary information, Mr. Jabbar had a black flag on the hitch of his F-150 Lightning truck, and authorities are investigating whether the flag has ties to the terrorist organization ISIS or whether Mr. Jabbar has ties to the terrorist organization. There is.
Car-sharing marketplace Turo said the vehicle in the attack was rented from the company.
Federal authorities and local New Orleans police are investigating whether Jabbar used a long rifle and fired into the crowd when he ran over someone, a senior police official briefed on the investigation said. three people told NBC News.
Federal and local officials say the incident is being investigated as both a terrorist attack and a crime scene.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said at a news conference: “We are taking shelter. We will be relentless and will do everything we can to ensure true justice.”
The FBI, which is leading the investigation, said weapons and possible improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in Jabbar’s car and in the French Quarter.
Authorities are investigating at least two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that may have been planted near the attack area to determine whether they are actual explosive devices and whether they are operable.
Investigators do not believe Mr Jabbar was “solely responsible” for the attack and are appealing for the public’s cooperation.
Alecia Duncan, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans field, said, “We are actively pursuing all leads to identify this, possible subjects, and persons of interest, and we are continuing to pursue all possible leads.” We are working to ensure there is no threat.” the office told reporters.
Before becoming a suspect in the deadly attack, Jabbar served on active duty in the Army from 2006 to 2015 and then in the Army Reserve from 2015 to 2020, according to three U.S. defense officials. was.
He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and served as an administrative clerk. When he was honorably discharged in 2020, he was a sergeant.
Separately, he tried to join the Navy in 2004, but never deployed or began training, a spokesperson said.
Jabbar was previously charged with misdemeanor theft in 2002 and with driving with an invalid license in 2005, according to Texas criminal records.
Jabbar has been married twice, his first marriage ending in 2012, according to civil records. A second divorce was filed in 2021.
Jabbar’s soon-to-be ex-wife filed a petition for a temporary restraining order against him in 2020, according to public records.
A temporary restraining order states that the parties “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause physical injury to the other party or the children of either party,” or “imminently harm the other party or the children of either party.” “No one may threaten to cause bodily harm.”
A month later, the divorce case was dismissed and a new divorce petition was filed in 2021.
The divorce was finalized in 2022, giving Jabbar and his ex-wife joint custody of their children.
In a video posted to YouTube in 2020, Jabbar said he was born in Beaumont, Texas, and worked in real estate after serving in the military for 10 years.
His real estate license expired in 2023, according to Texas Real Estate Commission records.
A woman who asked to remain anonymous and identified herself as Jabbar’s sister-in-law said her relatives in Texas were shocked to hear the news.
“That doesn’t make sense,” she said. “He is the greatest person I have ever known.”
“I really don’t know what happened,” she added. “He was a good person. He takes care of the kids and everything.”
She said some of her family is heading to New Orleans from Texas.
