NEW ORLEANS – Federal and law officials identified the man behind the wheel as a Texas man who drove a truck through a crowd of pedestrians gathered in New Orleans to celebrate New Year’s.
BACKGROUND: Driver ‘hellbent on carnage’ kills at least 10, injures 30 in New Orleans on New Year’s Day
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, is said to be the driver who killed at least 15 people and injured 30 other revelers in New Orleans’ bustling French Quarter district early on New Year’s Day.
According to public records, Jabbar is a Harris County resident and U.S. Citizen born in Beaumont, Texas but spent most of his adult life in Houston. Court records also show Jabbar has a previous criminal history, where he was arrested in 2002 and 2005 by the Katy PD and Beaumont PD, respectively.
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Investigators added after the truck came to a stop, Jabbar opened fire on officers, who returned fire. Two police officers were injured in the shootout with Jabbar, who authorities said died in the gunfight.
The attack occurred on Bourbon Street, known worldwide as one of the largest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties, and with crowds in the city in anticipation of the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game later Wednesday at the nearby Superdome.
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Police said Jabbar sped through a crowd along Bourbon Street around 3:15 a.m. early New Year’s Day as revelers had gathered to celebrate the start of the New Year. At least 15 people were killed and 30 others were injured and taken to five local hospitals. Two police officers were also injured in a shootout with Jabbar, who authorities said died in the gunfight.
A motive has not been disclosed, as of this writing, but the FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism. The FBI also says an Islamic State group flag was recovered. A homemade explosive device was also found in the truck.
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New Orleans’ Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick described Jabbar as “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did” and tried “to run over as many people as he could.”
The FBI announced that it does not believe Shamsud-Din Jabbar acted “solely responsible” for the Bourbon Street tragedy and is urging the public to come forward with any information that could aid the investigation.
In a since-deleted YouTube video, Jabbar described his “attention to detail” being born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, serving a decade in the U.S. military as a human resources and IT specialist, and later working as a realtor in Houston.
The FBI also said Wednesday in an afternoon news conference it is leading the charge in this investigation. They’re also asking anyone with information about previous connections with Jabbar to come forward via a digital tipline (or by calling 1800-CALL-FBI) because it does not appear he was working alone.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.