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By Jenna Sundel
News Reporter
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The suspect who allegedly drove into a crowd at a New Year's celebration on Wednesday, killing 15 people and injuring at least 30 others, has been identified as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar by the FBI.
Why It Matters
The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. A key line of inquiry is whether the attack was orchestrated or inspired by a foreign terrorist group.
It is the second attack on people over the holiday season in which a vehicle was used as a weapon. On December 20, a man drove a car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing five people and injuring hundreds more.In that case officials described the arrested suspect as a 50-year-old psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia with a history of anti-Islamic rhetoric and a sympathy for the far-right Alternative for Germany Party.
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What To Know
The New Orleans Police Department said the suspect opened fire on officers after the vehicle came to a stop. Jabbar was driving a Ford pickup truck, which officials said appeared to be rented.
When Newsweek attempted to book the truck, which was still being advertised on Turo to rent for $67 a day, we were told that it "has been an in accident" and were asked to cancel our reservation.
The website has since been updated to list the vehicle as "currently disabled."
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The electric truck was purchased from Mac Haik Ford Pasadena in Pasadena, Texas, for $70,303 in August.
The dealership declined to comment about the truck or its purchaser, but a manager did tell Newsweek that the authorities had not been in touch.
Officers returned fire and the suspect was struck, police said in a news release. He was subsequently pronounced dead.
Jabbar, 42, was a Houston resident. In 2005, he was charged for driving with a suspended license and in 2002 he was charged with misdemeanor theft, according to records reviewed by Newsweek.
He was registered as a Democrat in 2012 when he previously resided in North Carolina. His Texas voter registration has no party affiliation.
He also attended college at Georgia State University, according to records.
Jabbar was employed by The Midas Group, according to court records. A 2020 YouTube video he appears to have posted confirms that employment and he said he was a property manager at Blue Meadow Properties. He also said served as a human resources specialist and an IT specialist in the military for 10 years.
Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon for confirmation via email but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Jabbar has been married twice, according to public records, and has multiple children. One of his wives got a temporary restraining order against him, according to court records.
New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the male suspect "was trying to run over as many people as he could." She said the incident was the result of "intentional behavior."
"Last night we had over 300 officers out here. And because of the intentional mindset of this perpetrator who went around our barricades in order to conduct this, he was hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did," Kirkpatrick said.
Alethea Duncan, the special agent in charge for FBI New Orleans, said improvised explosive devices were also found in the area.
Duncan said at a press conference that the FBI does not believe that Jabbar was "solely responsible" for the attack.
"We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates," Duncan said.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that reportedly showed three men and a woman placing explosives, according to the Associated Press.
Jabbar also reportedly had an ISIS flag in his truck, according to CNN. Newsweek has not been able to independently verify that.
What People Are Saying
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, on X, formerly Twitter: "A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning. Please join Sharon and I in praying for all the victims and first responders on scene. I urge all near the scene to avoid the area."
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, on X: "Many of us woke up this morning to devastating news of the brutal intentional slaughter of innocent people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans. I'm praying for the victims and their families and will ensure they get justice for this appalling act."
What Happens Next
Law enforcement and government officials are expected to hold another press conference at 11 a.m. CST.
The public is being asked to avoid Bourbon Street north from Canal to Dumaine Streets and also east to Royal Street and west to Dauphine Street until further notice.
The FBI will be the lead agency in the investigation. The agency is asking anyone who had any interactions with Jabbar in the last 72 hours to contact the FBI.
Anyone with information that can assist is asked to contact the FBI's New Orleans Bureau by calling (504) 816-3000 or by emailing tips@fbi.gov.
Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
Update 1/1/24 12:52 p.m. ET: This story and headline was updated with the suspect's name.
Update 1/1/24 1:37 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Update 1/1/24 2:18 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Update 1/1/24 3:14 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Update 1/1/24 3:53 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Update 1/125/, 6:08 p.m. ET: This article was updated to note the New Orleans attack death toll has risen to 15 people.
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