Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas man, drove a rented truck into New Year’s revelers in New Orleans, killing 15 and injuring dozens. Jabbar, a former U.S. Army staff sergeant with a 13-year military career including an Afghanistan deployment, died in a shootout with police at the scene.
Authorities found an Islamic State (ISIS) flag on Jabbar’s truck and are investigating potential ties to terrorism. Weapons and explosive devices were discovered in the vehicle and nearby areas. The FBI suspects accomplices and is pursuing leads on Jabbar’s known associates.
Jabbar served in the Army from 2007 to 2015 as an HR and IT specialist and was in the Army Reserve until 2020. After leaving the military, he worked in real estate, managing Blue Meadow Properties LLC and operating as a sales agent until 2023. Born in Beaumont, Texas, he promoted himself as a “fierce negotiator” in a 2020 YouTube video.
Jabbar was divorced in 2022 and shared custody of one child. He had no prior violent criminal record but faced minor charges in Texas in the early 2000s.
Officials believe Jabbar planned the attack and are investigating why he carried it out. FBI Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan emphasized the urgency of tracking all leads related to potential collaborators.
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