Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Texas, was the driver behind a tragic New Year’s Eve truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, which killed 14 people and injured at least 30 others. Authorities say Jabbar, who died in a shootout with police after crashing the truck, was influenced by the Islamic State group, as shown in videos he posted online before the attack. He had an Islamic State flag on the truck, and his actions shocked both his family and friends, who had no signs of radicalization in him.
Jabbar had faced many personal struggles in recent years. He had gone through three divorces and was dealing with financial difficulties, including being behind on mortgage payments and seeing his businesses fail. His real estate business lost $28,000 in 2021, and he had accumulated $16,000 in credit card debt. Jabbar also worked for the consulting firm Deloitte, making $10,000 a month in 2022.
Before the attack, Jabbar had served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2020, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He had a degree in computer information systems and had lived in various states, including Texas, Georgia, and Alaska. However, his last years were marked by isolation from his family and growing personal challenges. His brother, Abdur-Rahim Jabbar, said that his older brother had become increasingly distant but didn’t show signs of anger or distress during their conversations.
In one of his last messages, Jabbar wrote about his financial troubles, including being $27,000 behind on his mortgage and facing the possibility of foreclosure. Despite the personal hardships, his family, including his ex-wives, were unaware of any signs that he was capable of violence.
Jabbar’s childhood friend, Chris Pousson, also spoke of their friendship and said he never saw any warning signs during their check-ins. He expressed disbelief at Jabbar’s actions, saying that if there had been any red flags, he would have reported them.
Now, as authorities continue to investigate the attack, they are piecing together the events leading up to this tragic incident, while also exploring the possibility that Jabbar’s mental health issues may have played a role in his actions.
