S
hamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran, was identified as the suspect behind the New Orleans truck attack on January 1, 2024. At around 3:15 am, Jabbar allegedly drove his Ford pick-up truck into crowds gathered on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, killing 15 people and injuring 35 others. The police described the attack as "very intentional" and said that Jabbar fired on law enforcement, injuring two officers.

    Jabbar was also found to be carrying a flag associated with the Islamic State group and improvised explosives, including pipe bombs, in his vehicle. He was subsequently killed by New Orleans police. Prior to the attack, Jabbar's wife had obtained a restraining order against him due to threats and concerns for her safety and their child.

    A 2020 YouTube video surfaced online featuring Jabbar, who described himself as a former army veteran turned real estate agent. The video raised questions about how someone with such a seemingly normal background could commit such a horrific act.

    Jabbar's past was revealed through various sources, including his LinkedIn profile and Facebook posts shared by friends. He graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in computer information systems and worked for the US Army in human resources and IT before being discharged. Jabbar also served in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010 and had a criminal record for traffic and theft incidents.

    The New Orleans attack footage showed Jabbar navigating around a police cruiser barricade before plowing through pedestrians on Bourbon Street, leaving many wondering about the motivations behind his actions.