On Thursday the FBI released surveillance photos that showed Shamsud-Din Jabbar shortly before a truck attack and shooting on New Orleans' Bourbon Street. The agency is asking anyone familiar with the images of Jabbar or with a cooler Jabbar was carrying that reportedly held an IED to contact the authorities.
Newly released surveillance photos show Shamsud- Din Jabbar a little more than an hour before the deadly Bourbon Street attack. The #FBI is asking witnesses who passed him on the street or saw this blue ice chest containing an IED to contact us. https://t.co/YpD2NsVI5U pic.twitter.com/Em6PPsG4QK
— FBI New Orleans (@FBINewOrleans) January 2, 2025
Federal investigators said that the U.S. Army veteran's attack Bourbon Street "was an act of terrorism and a "premeditated evil act."
Teams of federal agents have been scouring every location tied to 42-year-old Jabbar, a Texas native. This includes a location in Houston, where he reportedly lived.
Jabbar, who served more than a decade in the Army, reportedly recorded a series of videos in which he said he wanted to kill his family and join ISIS in the hours before he sped onto a busy Bourbon Street with a rented pickup truck.
FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said Jabbar picked up a rental truck from Houston on December 30 and drove to New Orleans on December 31.
Raia said Jabbar posted five different videos early on New Year's Day proclaiming support for ISIS. The first video was posted on social media at 1:29 a.m., with the last video being posted at 3:02 a.m.
The FBI said on Thursday that they believe Jabbar acted alone. Originally, there were concerns multiple people were involved as people were seen touching potential improvised explosive devices in the French Quarter. Authorities now believe those people were not involved in Wednesday's incident.
Raia also indicated that they have found no link to Jabbar and an incident in Las Vegas involving improvised explosives detonated inside a Tesla Cybertruck.
Authorities say he used the truck to mow down dozens of people during New Year's celebrations in the French Quarter, killing 14 people. Police originally said 15 died, but later clarified that the total included the suspect.
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Officials were originally concerned that Jabbar did not act alone, prompting law enforcement to beef up security. The Sugar Bowl, which was scheduled for Wednesday evening, was postponed to Thursday, giving officials one extra day to bolster security.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said that an emergency declaration was issued to streamline communications between local, state and federal officials.
Meanwhile, some of the victims killed in the attack have been identified. Among them is Reggie Hunter, a Baton Rouge father. Also, Tiger Bech, a former college football player for Princeton, was identified as one of the victims killed.
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