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Shamsud-Din Jabbar's Identity Revealed Amid Bourbon Street Terror Plot Investigation

Texas man with unclear New Orleans connections undergoes divorce.

A
view of closed-off Bourbon Street on New Year's Day.

    Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas and Army veteran, was shot and killed by police after allegedly ramming a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year's revelers on Bourbon Street, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more. A flag bearing the ISIS symbol was attached to the truck.

    Jabbar had advertised himself as promoting values he learned in the military: respect, integrity, and courage. However, a review of public records and interviews with those who knew him suggest a far darker picture. He had lost his house in a divorce in August 2022 and held tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt.

    Jabbar was an Army veteran who enlisted in 2006 and spent nine years on active duty as an administrative clerk, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009. He was discharged honorably in 2020. Court records show he lived in Fresno, Texas, with his wife until their divorce, and later moved to a mobile home in north Houston before relocating to New Orleans about a month ago.

    Jabbar's landlord described him as quiet and never giving any problems, paying rent on time every month. However, Jabbar had begun to behave erratically, according to his ex-wife's current spouse, who said he was practicing Islam and had two daughters.

    A review of public records shows Jabbar grew up in Texas, attended the University of Houston briefly before dropping out, and later became a real estate agent. He posted a YouTube video promoting his business, promising customers service centered on the values he learned in the Army. However, divorce filings show that Jabbar had money troubles, with his ex-wife accusing him of wasting their money through excessive spending.

    Law enforcement officials believe Jabbar had accomplices and are still trying to determine whether he had ties to terrorist groups. Two pipe bombs were planted around the French Quarter, which were concealed in coolers and wired for remote detonation.

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