New Orleans truck attack: Houston suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar believed to have acted alone
NEW ORLEANS - The Houston man who drove a truck down New Orleans’ Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day, killing more than a dozen people, is now believed to have acted alone, the FBI says.
During a news conference on Thursday morning, FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said at this point in the investigation it is not believed that anyone else was involved in the attack besides 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar.
According to Raia, Jabbar posted videos on social media declaring his support for ISIS and said he initially considered harming his family and friends.
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Videos posted before the attack
According to Raia, Jabbar picked up a rented pickup truck in Houston on Dec. 30 and drove to New Orleans on the evening of Dec. 31.
Raia says Jabbar posted several videos to an online platform proclaiming his support for ISIS. The videos were time-stamped from 1:29 a.m. to 3:02 a.m.
"In the first video, Jabbar explains he originally planned to harm his family and friends, but was concerned the news headlines would not focus on the ‘war between the believers and the disbelievers.’"
Jabbar also stated that he had joined ISIS in the summer and provided a will and testament, Raia says.
What happened in New Orleans?
Fourteen people were killed and dozens more were injured when Jabbar intentionally drove down Bourbon Street early New Year's Day, authorities say.
"He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did," New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said Wednesday.
According to Kirkpatrick, around 3:15 a.m., the man drove a pickup truck around the barricades blocking Bourbon Street and drove down the street at a fast pace, "trying to run over as many people as he possibly could."
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Once the driver crashed, he opened fire on officers, Kirkpatrick said. Two officers were struck and taken to the hospital in stable condition.
The FBI says officers returned fire, and Jabbar died at the scene.
Raia said the attack was "an act of terrorism."
"It was a premeditated and an evil act."
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA - JANUARY 1: Police checkpoints on and around Bourbon Street, after a vehicle plowed into New Year crowds at a tourist district local authorities said in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States on January 1, 2025. (Photo by
IEDs found in coolers
According to Raia, two functional IEDs were found in coolers in the French Quarter and were rendered safe.
"We did obtain surveillance footage showing Jabbar placing the devices where they were found," Raia said.
One was found near Bourbon Street and Orleans Street, and the other was located about two blocks away.
The FBI would like to talk to people who were seen stopping to look at coolers containing the IEDs. Raia says these people are not believed to be involved in the incident in any way at this point, but the FBI would like to speak to them as witnesses.
Who is Shamsud-Din Jabbar?
According to the FBI, Jabbar is a U.S.-born citizen from Texas.
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Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the suspect has been living in the Houston area.
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On Wednesday, the FBI and the Harris County Sheriff's Office executed a search at a Houston home believed to be connected to Jabbar. They concluded the search on Thursday morning but didn't provide details about what they found. The FBI said there is no threat to neighbors.
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New Surveillance video
New surveillance video captured the moments before 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar struck several people in New Orleans early on New Years Day.
In the video, you can see several people walking in the middle of the roadway running for safety as the truck comes barreling through.
One person narrowly escaped being struck in the video.
FBI sets up tip line following New Orleans truck attack
The FBI is asking for the public’s help with the investigation.
They would like to speak to anyone who has interacted with Jabbar, including those who know him personally, saw him in New Orleans or Texas, worked with him or served in the military with him.
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Anyone with information, videos or pictures is asked to provide them via a website set up by the FBI.
Call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online.
The Source: The information in this article is from the FBI, the New Orleans Police Department and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. This story was reported from Houston.