Army Veteran Kills 15 in Bourbon Street New Year’s Attack, Linked to ISIS

Jan 2, 2025, 02:24 PM

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran and U.S. citizen from Texas, carried out a deadly New Year’s attack in New Orleans, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more. Jabbar drove a rented Ford F-150 Lightning truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street and was later killed in a shootout with police. Authorities found potential improvised explosive devices and an ISIS flag in his vehicle. In a series of night-time videos recorded while driving from Texas to Louisiana, Jabbar discussed plans for a "celebration" with his family, intending to kill them after a divorce, but claimed dreams led him to join ISIS instead. The FBI confirmed Jabbar had pledged allegiance to ISIS before the summer of 2024. Jabbar served in the U.S. Army for over a decade, including a deployment to Afghanistan, and later worked in IT and real estate. Financial troubles, two divorces, and legal issues marked his recent years. Law enforcement is reviewing the videos to understand his transition from military service to terrorism.