The FBI identified the perpetrator in the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas man.
Zoom in: New Orleans police fatally shot Jabbar on Bourbon Street in the moments after the attack after he stepped out of his truck and opened fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene, investigators said.
The attack killed 14 people and injured about 35 others. Read their stories.
Here's what we know about Jabbar:
Early life and military service
Jabbar grew up in Beaumont, Texas, according to the New York Times, whose reporters interviewed Jabbar's half-brother, Abdur Rahim Jabbar IV.
Jabbar's father grew up Christian, but later converted to Islam. Jabbar converted as well, the newspaper reported.
Later, Jabbar's mother moved him and some of his siblings to Houston, where Jabbar eventually attended the University of Houston. He lost a scholarship there because of how much he was partying at the time, his half-brother told the Times.
Jabbar's eight-year military career in the U.S. Army began by 2007, during which he made a tour to Afghanistan and earned the Global War on Terrorism medal, the New York Times says.
The edges of Jabbar's personal life appear to have been fraying in recent years.
As he finalized his third divorce, Jabbar was in severe debt by 2021, according to NBC News, which detailed his financial troubles and a short-lived job as a real estate agent before he secured a job at Deloitte. The company confirmed his employment to NBC.
Jabbar was also starting to indicate more radicalized thinking, posting audio recordings online of his own Islamic teachings and stating opinions about what he described as the evils of music, according to The Times-Picayune.
The attack
Jabbar made at least two visits to New Orleans before the New Year's Day attack, FBI investigators said Sunday.
During those visits, he recorded video of Bourbon Street while wearing Meta glasses.
Then, in the hours just before the attack, Jabbar posted five videos to Facebook explaining that his actions were inspired by ISIS.
Originally, FBI Deputy assistant director Christopher Raia said Thursday, Jabbar indicated plans to harm his friends and family but worried headlines about the attack wouldn't focus on what Raia quoted as a "war between believers and disbelievers."
Jabbar "was 100% inspired by ISIS," Raia said, noting that Jabbar said in the videos that he'd joined ISIS before last summer and provided a will and testament.
Authorities contended Sunday that Jabbar acted alone, adding that there were no indications he had accomplices in the United States but they were still investigating outside of the country.
He was in Cairo, Egypt, and Ontario, Canada, in the summer of 2023, the FBI said, and were working to confirm the purposes of those trips.
Local leaders are fielding tough questions over whether the New Orleans attack on New Year's Day that killed 14 people and injured another 35 could have been prevented.
The latest: Bright yellow vehicle-resistant blockades have been newly installed on sidewalks on and surrounding Bourbon Street. NBC reports the city has had them since 2017.
In a now-viral video clip, NOPD chief Anne Kirkpatrick acknowledges that the blockades, called archers, were in storage in New Orleans, and she didn't know about them previously.
As multiple media outlets ask similar questions, the New York Times published an article headlined "Could Better Security Have Stopped the New Orleans Terror Attack?" on Thursday. It details what it calls "a confidential security report" from 2019 that outlined how Bourbon Street was vulnerable to a vehicle attack like the one that took place this week.
Catch up quick: A man whom the FBI identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran and a U.S. citizen from Texas, made a sudden right turn onto Bourbon Street at about 3:15am local time.
Jabbar drove his truck onto the sidewalk, bypassing an NOPD SUV that was parked in front of a broken barricade. He drove through crowds of New Years revelers for about two blocks before crashing into construction equipment.
When Jabbar exited the truck, he began shooting, and three NOPD officers returned fire, officials have said. Two officers were among the injured. Jabbar was pronounced dead at the scene.
Context: Barricades are typically in place during busy nights at the corner of Bourbon and Canal Streets, preventing drivers from heading down Bourbon Street.
Vehicle-resistant bollards were installed at the intersection about a decade ago, but have been out of commission pretty much ever since, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said this week, citing damage from debris like Mardi Gras beads. They've been under construction as the city prepares to host the NFL's Super Bowl in February.
Officials do not block Canal, one of the city's most-trafficked thoroughfares.
"We did indeed have a plan but the terrorist defeated it," NOPD chief Anne Kirkpatrick said Wednesday.
What they're saying: City and state officials this week have put up a united front against harsh questions about what could have been done to prevent the attack.
"This type of event can happen in any city, and that's the tragedy of it," Gov. Jeff Landry said Thursday.
In a contentious conversation with Britain's Sky News, Kirkpatrick bit back at a reporter who said the city's plan "allowed an attacker to drive into a crowd."
"I take exception to that," she replied. "But if you were experienced with terrorism, you would not be asking that question."
Reality check: "Security experts acknowledged that it was impossible to protect every sidewalk and street party in America against a determined vehicle attack," the New York Times reported.
Plus, experts say vehicle attacks are becoming more common because they're incredibly simple and extremely difficult to prevent, Axios' Avery Lotz reports.
Flashback: This is not the first time New Orleans officials have faced questions over actions surrounding city safety.
At the onset of the pandemic 2020, Cantrell faced questions from national media over the wisdom of hosting a typical Mardi Gras celebration at the time. It was eventually understood to have been a superspreader event.
At the time, Cantrell batted away the criticism, noting that Mardi Gras that year, recognized that year on Feb. 25, was still weeks before most of the country mandated social distancing.
What we're watching: New Orleans' Carnival celebrations kick off next week, and then the city hosts Super Bowl LIX before the celebrations culminate with Mardi Gras on March 4.
Landry said Wednesday that officials recognize "we have a problem" with security, and "we're going to fix it."
What's next: New Orleans City Council is holding a joint public works and criminal justice committee meeting Monday to address additional security measures in light of the attack.
Cantrell also said Sunday during an FBI update that she plans to ask for federal help to bring in a tactical expert to map the city for target-hardening measures.
Zoom out: Biden has been in contact with Mayor LaToya Cantrell since the attack, the White House said.
Hours after it happened, the president called it a "terrible assault," and added that "the spirit of New Orleans will never, never be defeated."
He gave a recorded message at the start of the rescheduled Sugar Bowl too, which was played less than a mile from the crime scene.
The latest: Bourbon Street reopened to the public on Thursday with new vehicle-resistant barricades on the sidewalks. Go deeper.
Catch up quick: A man whom the FBI identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran and a U.S. citizen from Texas, drove his truck around an NOPD SUV and onto a French Quarter sidewalk in the early hours of Jan. 1, as people were out celebrating the holiday.
When Jabbar exited the truck, he began shooting, and three NOPD officers returned fire, officials have said. Two officers were among the injured.
Details about victims in the attack began to emerge as loved ones learned of their identities, though New Orleans coroner Dwight McKenna said it'll take "several days" to perform all autopsies. Go deeper.
Investigators now believe the suspect accused in the New Orleans terror attack that killed 14 people and injured 35 others acted alone.
The latest: New Orleans coroner Dwight McKenna on Friday released the names of the majority of the victims who were killed. Go deeper.
The FBI said it has identified 35 people who were injured as Friday night, but the agency expects the number to rise in the coming days as more victims seek medical attention.
Catch up quick: A man whom the FBI identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran and a U.S. citizen from Texas, drove his truck around an NOPD SUV and onto a French Quarter sidewalk in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, as people were out celebrating the holiday.
When Jabbar exited the truck, he began shooting, and three NOPD officers returned fire, officials have said. Two officers were among the injured.
Here's what we know as of Friday night.
Timeline of the attack
Jabbar rented a white Ford F150 pickup truck for the attack. Investigators have said he picked up the truck in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 30, and then arrived in Louisiana the next day. The truck was spotted in Gonzales, Louisiana, on Dec. 31.
He used an app, Turo, for the rental, said FBI deputy assistant director Christopher Raia. What to know about Turo.
Then, Jabbar drove to New Orleans the evening of Dec. 31, after which he posted five videos on Facebook proclaiming support for ISIS, Raia said.
Originally, Raia said, Jabbar indicated plans to harm his friends and family, but was worried that headlines about the attack wouldn't focus on what Raia quoted as a"war between believers and disbelievers."
Jabbar "was 100% inspired by ISIS," Raia said, noting that Jabbar said in the videos that he'd joined ISIS before last summer and provided a will and testament.
At left, surveillance footage from 2:03 am CT showing Shamsud-Din Jabbar as he walked along Dauphine Street near Governor Nicholls Street. At right, a photo of one of the coolers containing an improvised explosive device, which was placed by Jabbar near the intersection of Bourbon and Orleans streets. Photos: Courtesy of FBI
Then, Jabbar placed two improvised explosive devices along Bourbon Street, Raia said. The FBI also shared photos on X of Jabbar and a cooler containing one of the devices. See more photos.
One was originally placed at Bourbon and St. Peter Street, but a bystander who investigators don't believe was directly involved dragged it to Bourbon and Orleans streets. Investigators found a second IED at Bourbon and Toulouse. The bombs were rendered safe at the scene, Raia said.
The FBI said Jabbar had a transmitter in his truck, which they believe he intended to use to activate the IEDs.
Investigators believe Jabbar left the scene after placing the IEDs and returned later to follow through on his vehicle attack, using his rented truck as a weapon.
At about 3:15am local time Wednesday, Jabbar was driving down Canal Street away from the Mississippi River when he suddenly turned right, hopping onto the sidewalk and past an NOPD SUV that had barricaded Bourbon Street has a pedestrian thoroughfare.
Then, Jabbar continued down Bourbon Street as he plowed through people before coming to a stop and exchanging gunfire with the NOPD. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police, ATF and FBI agents are seen outside a Mandeville Street Airbnb where investigators say Shamsud-Din Jabbar stayed while in New Orleans. Photo: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images
While staying in New Orleans, Jabbar rented an Airbnb on Mandeville Street, Raia said.
AFT agents say Jabbar set a small fire in the hallway and "strategically placed accelerants throughout the house in his effort to destroy it and other evidence of his crime," the FBI said in a statement Friday night.
The fire burned out before spreading to other rooms, the FBI said, and agents found pre-cursors for bomb-making material and a privately made device suspected of being a silencer for a rifle.
The FBI has cleared the Airbnb and Bourbon Street crime scenes and released them to New Orleans authorities.
Zoom in: Evidence that remains under investigation includes Jabbar's rented truck, two laptops and three cellphones.
The FBI has also received nearly 1,000 tips as of Friday night and leads have been sent to field offices across the country, officials said.
The FBI has also brought in 200 additional employees to help with the investigation.
Suspect acted alone
Investigators' early assumptions were that Jabbar did not act alone, but Raia clarified Thursday that they are no longer working under that assumption.
"We do not assess at this point that anyone else is involved in this attack except Jabbar," Raia said.
Zoom out: The FBI has already searched and cleared a scene in Houston, where the suspect lived, investigators said.
Investigators also continue to look for possible connections between the New Orleans attack and a deadly Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside Trump International Hotel Las Vegas.
"At this point, there is no definitive link" between them, Raia said.
New Orleans remains "safe"
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said New Orleans "right now is the safest place on earth."
It was an attempt to allay fears that further violence could unravel in the city even as Notre Dame and University of Georgia fans gathered for the rescheduled Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The game, originally slated for New Year's Day, was played at 3pm CST Thursday at the Caesars Superdome, about a mile away from where the Wednesday attack took place.
It's not yet clear exactly why Jabbar chose New Orleans to carry out his attack, officials said, but the likelihood of a large crowd was a draw.
"This type of event can happen in any city, and that's the tragedy of it," Landry said. "To protect our citizens in America from evil, you have to crush it. You can't go out there and placate it. You can't go out there and ... hope evil doesn't show up on your doorstep, because it will."
Yes, but: "We do not believe the public is in any danger around any of these locations," Raia said.
Landry and Mayor LaToya Cantrell stated their confidence in what Landry called the city's current "unprecedented" level of law enforcement presence.
"Right now, this is one of the safest places on earth," Landry said. "That doesn't mean nothing can't happen."
The intrigue: The statements were at odds with Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's comments early Thursday during an appearance on Fox & Friends.
"I would probably at least have postponed [the Allstate Sugar Bowl] until Friday," she said. "But, you know, I think that they have secured the city and, you know, it's OK, I guess, if they're going forward with it."
Bourbon Street reopened to the public by about 12:30pm Thursday.
City leaders laid 14 yellow roses in honor of the victims who died before reopening the street. Other street memorials have grown too.
Additionally, new vehicle-resistant barricades were installed on Bourbon Street sidewalks.
How to help
Kasey Rogers donates blood Thursday to support victims in the Jan. 1 terror attack. Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/ AFP via Getty
If you have tips: The FBI is asking to connect with anyone with tips, or video or photos of the scene, and anyone who may have ever spoken with Jabbar.
How to give: Blood donations are needed, and they're making a big difference after hundreds of donors have already answered the call, officials say. But more may be needed. Go deeper.
New Orleans police shot and killed a suspect in the Bourbon Street pickup truck attack that killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more early Wednesday amid New Year's Eve celebrations.
The latest: Police are looking into "people of interest" in the attack who may have been working with the suspect who died at the scene, New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said in an interview with NBC News' "Today" show on Thursday morning.
"We have people of interest. They are not people who are suspects at this time," Kirkpatrick said, adding that the FBI was working on "tracking down everybody."
The FBI said late Wednesday that it was still processing the crime scene that comprised a blocks-long stretch of the French Quarter, New Orleans' densest and most highly-visited neighborhood.
Investigators planned to turn the area back over to local authorities by Thursday morning while they carried out "a number" of search warrants "in New Orleans and other states."
Catch up quick: President Biden said in televised remarks Wednesday evening that Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran suspected of committing the attack that the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism, "posted videos to social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill."
"I know while this person committed a terrible assault on this city, the spirit of New Orleans will never, never be defeated," he said.
Biden said law enforcement officers were investigating whether there was "any possible connection" between the New Orleans attack and a deadly Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside Trump International Hotel Las Vegas. "Thus far, there's nothing to report on that," he said.
The big picture: Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy warned about the spread of misinformation in a press conference at New Orleans police headquarters Wednesday afternoon.
"You will find out what happened and who was responsible or I will raise fresh hell," Kennedy said, but cautioned the public to be wary of its information sources as officials investigate.
What they're saying: "This city has been tried by fire before, but fire purifies," Kirkpatrick said. "Fire makes things stronger. We have a plan, we know what to do. We are going to get these people. There is a path forward."
What happened
A man whom the FBI identified as Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, was driving a white Ford pickup truck away from the Mississippi River on Canal Street at about 3:15am local time.
He drove his truck onto a sidewalk and around an NOPD SUV to plow into crowds of New Year's revelers, Kirkpatrick said.
Photos show the truck crashed into construction equipment just short of the Royal Sonesta hotel at 300 Bourbon St.
When Jabbar exited the truck, he began shooting, and three NOPD officers returned fire, Kirkpatrick said.
Jabbar, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had previously been on active duty in the U.S. Army for "many years" and had also served in the Army Reserve until a few years ago, according to Biden.
Two improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, were found by police, FBI special agent in charge Alethea Duncan said.
They were found when police made systematic sweeps looking for suspicious items near the scene.
Police also swept the Caesars Superdome, officials said, which was scheduled to host the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Years Day. The game was postponed to Thursday afternoon. Go deeper.
Police searching for additional suspects
Jabbar rented the truck through the Turo app, Biden said.
An ISIS flag was found inside, as well as multiple weapons and a "potential" IED, the FBI said.
It was not immediately clear if Jabbar had any formal affiliation with any terrorism organization.
Officials do not believe Jabbar was working alone, Duncan said Wednesday.
But they did not say whether any additional suspects were in custody, or how many people may have been involved.
New Orleans officials aware of security issues
Bourbon Street is an active roadway in New Orleans, but it often converts to a pedestrian mall during high-traffic times.
That was the case on New Year's, but bollards blocking vehicle traffic from entering the street have been malfunctioning since they were installed about a decade ago, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said.
New Orleans had been in the process of replacing those bollards, as part of ongoing work to upgrade city infrastructure before hosting Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
An NOPD SUV was stationed at the corner of Bourbon and Canal streets to block vehicle traffic. There are no bollards blocking the sidewalk.
What they said: "We did indeed have a plan but the terrorist defeated it," Kirkpatrick said.
Gov. Jeff Landry said officials recognize "we have a problem" and "we're going to fix it."
"We can go on about 'what ifs' forever," Landry said, deflecting reporters' questions over security inefficiencies. "This is evil."
By the numbers: About 400 police officers were in the French Quarter over Tuesday night, Kirkpatrick said.
What we're watching
Details about victims in the attack began to emerge Wednesday as loved ones learned of their identities.
"It will take several days to perform all autopsies," New Orleans coroner Dwight McKenna said in a statement.
Some victims' bodies had still remained on the scene as of Wednesday afternoon, Cantrell said during a press conference.
Landry issued a state of emergency Wednesday afternoon and tapped 100 military police from the Louisiana National Guard to bolster city ranks.
The FBI is asking to connect with anyone with tips, or video or photos that may be helpful to investigators.
Emergency officials respond to a vehicle attack on Bourbon and Canal streets early Wednesday. The scene is viewed from Canal Street, with Bourbon Street continuing at right. Photo: Matthew Hinton/ AFP via Getty Images
At least 10 people are dead and 35 injured after a man drove a pickup truck into a large crowd on New Orleans' Bourbon and Canal streets early New Year's Day, officials said.
The latest: The suspect died after engaging with police, the FBI said Wednesday. The bureau, which is now taking the lead, is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.
At least one improvised explosive device was found on the scene, said FBI New Orleans special agent-in-charge Alethea Duncan. Officials are "working on confirming if this was a viable device or not." The FBI said other potential IEDs were also found in the French Quarter.
More updates are expected from NOPD headquarters at 1pm local time after a press conference originally slated for 11am was postponed.
Of those killed and injured, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said, little was known Wednesday morning, but she said it appeared that most were locals.
Zoom in: The FBI identified the suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas.
Jabbar appears to have been driving a rented Ford truck. Officials found an ISIS flag inside the truck, as well as multiple weapons and a "potential" IED, the FBI said.
After Jabbar drove through the crowd, he began shooting at police, who returned fire. Jabbar was pronounced dead at the scene, the FBI said.
The man, since identified as Jabbar, drove down Bourbon Street "at a very fast pace," indicating "very intentional behavior [and] trying to run over as many people as he possibly could," Kirkpatrick said.
Kirkpatrick said he drove a pickup truck down Bourbon Street with "clear intent."
"He was hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage he did," Kirkpatrick said, adding that two NOPD officers are among those injured.
What we're hearing: The scene in the French Quarter Wednesday morning was sleepy much like after any big night downtown, Axios' Chelsea Brasted reported from Bourbon Street Wednesday morning.
But dozens of NOPD cars lined the streets around a cordoned-off section of Bourbon Street. Residents and visitors alike paused to peer past the police tape and wonder what was going on while local shops, bars, and restaurants opened their doors for business.
One woman jogged up to a Louisiana State Police vehicle blocking a French Quarter street, asking the driver "is that my baby? They said my daughter got hit by a truck."
Photos circulated on social media Wednesday showing bloodied, severely wounded victims laying on Bourbon Street after the attack.
A witness told Axios he saw a white Ford F-250 truck hit two pedicabs and plow through a movable metal barricade, striking multiple people.
"He hit them like boom, boom, boom," said Raheem Willis, who watched the person driving erratically from a nearby Krystal restaurant around 3 a.m.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell has been in touch with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and the White House, she said. Landry on X called the event "a horrific act of violence."
City officials warned people early Wednesday to "get yourself away from the area" as officials respond and investigate.
The victims were transported to five area hospitals, NOLA Ready officials said: University Medical, Touro, East Jefferson General, the Ochsner Medical Center main facility on Jefferson and the Ochsner Baptist Campus.
Context: Downtown New Orleans is a New Year's hotspot, especially with college football's Sugar Bowl scheduled later Wednesday only one mile from the scene of the attack.
Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said earlier Wednesday the game's committee was in "ongoing discussions" with authorities and "will communicate further details as they become available." Notre Dame was scheduled to play Georgia in the game.
Vehicle-resistant bollards are typically in place during busy nights at the corner of Bourbon and Canal Streets, preventing drivers from heading down Bourbon Street. But they've been under construction as the city prepares to host the NFL's Super Bowl in February.
Officials do not block Canal, one of the city's most-trafficked thoroughfares.
The driver, Kirkpatrick said, drove past barricades to get to the Bourbon Street crowds.
Editor's note: This is a breaking story and will continue to be updated.
A New Orleans second-line parade ended in bursts of gunfire Sunday night as two separate shootings killed at least two people and injured 11 others, police said.
Zoom in: The shootings cut short the Nine Times Social Aid and Pleasure Club's 26th annual parade as it wound through the 9th Ward.
Officers who were part of the regular second-line detail heard gunshots at about 3:38pm Sunday in the 1800 block of Almonaster Avenue, NOPD said. Ten people were injured at that location from two weapons, The Times-Picayune reports.
About 45 minutes later, police say, NOPD received report of gunfire about nine blocks away at Almonaster and Florida avenues. Three people were injured there, and two of those people died, police said.
There were no immediate reports of any arrests.
The big picture: Nine Times is part of the rich cultural heritage amongst the city's Black community.
It is one of dozens of social aid and pleasure clubs, which were originally founded as a way for Black residents to support each other in difficult times during the Jim Crow era. Nine Times is one of the largest, with three divisions, according to "Dancing In The Streets."
The events are typically joyous, dance-fueled, brass band-led street parties that celebrate life and honor club members' community contributions.
But the events have also been the scene of occasional violence. In perhaps the most infamous example, a second-line on Mother's Day in 2013 ended when 19 people were shot. One person, Deb Cotton, a standard-bearer for the second-line community, died from her injuries years later.
Social media posts from Nine Times' second-line earlier Sunday show event-goers dancing through the 9th Ward streets.
In some videos, some club-members step out in head-to-toe silver ensembles, and in others dancers show off their footwork from the top of brick cemetery walls under brilliant blue skies.
What they're saying: "Our hearts goes out to all those who were impacted by what happened today!!" reads an Instagram story for the Nine Times Divas.
"This is crazy! In all our years, nothing like this has ever happened!!! This is very unfortunate and sad all the way around the board!!!"
For the record: Tips can be reported to Crimestoppers by calling (504) 822-1111.
Editor's note: This story was updated after NOPD said Monday the number of people injured had risen to 11.
