The deceased suspect in the deadly New Orleans terror attack has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, and authorities are actively investigating his travel history and background, according to NBC News.
The FBI confirmed that an Islamic State flag was found in the vehicle. According to preliminary background checks, Jabbar is a US citizen and resident of Houston, Texas, with a prior criminal record that includes theft and driving with a suspended license, according to the Guardian.
According to Fox News, he was arrested in Katy, Texas, in 2002 for misdemeanor theft and again three years later in Beaumont for driving with an invalid license, which is also a misdemeanor.
In a YouTube video, the suspect reveals that he spent ten years traveling with the military as a human resources specialist. He was listed as a “technology operations manager” in the United States Army Reserve, according to reports.
He also reportedly used to work as a real estate agent. It was previously reported that he entered the country through Eagle Pass in Texas; it is now known that this entry was legal.
That entry took place on December 30, 2024, according to reports, before the suspect traveled to New Orleans, where he plowed a vehicle into a crowd of New Year’s Eve revelers at 3:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
He killed 15 people and injured at least 35, according to The Times-Picayune and The New Orleans Advocate. After plowing his vehicle into the crowd, he allegedly exited his truck and opened fire, before engaging in a firefight with the police, during which he was neutralized.
According to NBC News, authorities are actively investigating whether Jabbar used a long-gun rifle to open fire on the crowd and first responders. According to Fox News sources, he was carrying a Glock and a.308 rifle with a suppressor.
The rifle was reportedly stolen in New Jersey. It was also fitted with optics.
Jabbar was reportedly dressed in military gear, including full body armor, before launching the attack, and his gun had a silencer, according to police. However, little is known about the incident’s background or execution.
The authorities are now looking into the possibility of a second or multiple suspects, as another person may have rented the truck used in the attack, according to The Times-Picayune and The New Orleans Advocate.
An improvised explosive device was also discovered at the scene, but details about it have yet to be released.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell quickly declared the incident a terrorist attack, stating that she had spoken with both Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and President Joe Biden, who promised her “full federal support” for the investigation.
Biden issued a statement on his official X page, writing, “I have been continuously briefed since early this morning about the horrific incident that occurred in New Orleans overnight. The FBI is leading the investigation and treating the incident as a terrorist act.
He added, “I will continue to receive updates throughout the day, and I will have more to say as we have more information to share. My heart goes out to the victims and their families, who were just trying to enjoy the holiday.
There is no justification for any kind of violence, and we will not tolerate an attack on any of our country’s communities.”
Other officials, including Landry and Cantrell, requested prayers for the victims and their families, stating that everyone is in their thoughts following the heinous incident.
