Topline
The FBI said it has identified 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar as the man accused of killing 10 people in New Orleans early on New Year’s Day by ramming a truck into a crowd, in an incident that is now being investigated as an “act of terrorism.”
Key Facts
In a statement, the federal agency said Jabbar is a U.S. citizen from Texas.
The vehicle used in the attack was a Ford pickup truck “which appears to be rented,” the FBI said, adding that it was working to confirm how he “came into possession of the vehicle.”
The FBI also confirmed that an ISIS flag was found in the vehicle—something several news outlets had reported—and the agency said it was trying to determine the suspect’s “potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations.”
Weapons and a “potential” improvised explosive device were found in the attacker’s truck, and other possible explosive devices were recovered in New Orleans’ French Quarter area.
The FBI said its bomb technicians are trying to determine if the IEDs are viable and working to render them safe.
In a separate update, The New Orleans Police Department said the suspect “opened fire on responding officers” after ramming his vehicle into the crowd and he was killed after the officers “returned fire.”
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What Is Know About Jabbar’s Past?
In a court document filed as part of his divorce proceedings in 2022, Jabbar disclosed he worked for accounting firm Deloitte at the time and earned around $120,000 a year, according to The New York Times—though the filing also reportedly mentioned late home payments and credit card debt. The Times also reported that Jabbar was charged with two minor crimes in 2002 and 2005—first for misdemeanor theft in Katy, Texas—near Houston—and later for driving with an invalid license.
What Details Are Known About The Ramming Attack?
According to New Orleans police, the attacker rammed a truck into a crowd of pedestrians on Bourbon Street at around 3:15 a.m. early Wednesday. The truck struck several people before it crashed. Several police officers responded to the scene of the crash, after which the suspect emerged from the vehicle and fired at them. His bullets struck two officers—who are in stable condition—before officers returned fire. He was killed at the scene.
