The driver who massacred pedestrians celebrating the New Year on a New Orleans street and died in a shootout with police has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar.
Jabbar drove a rental truck into the crowd on Bourbon Street, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens, was killed after he exited his vehicle and started shooting, reported NOLA.com.
The gunman – who reportedly grew up in Texas and served in the U.S. Army – injured two NOLA police officers during the shootout, who are in stable condition.
The vehicle was rented by the suspect through the Turo app – a carsharing company – according to ABC News.
The truck is registered to a 42-year-old Houston man. His wife said their family is devastated and they are cooperating with investigators.
The vehicle involved in the attack came through Eagle Pass, Texas, over a month ago, according to Fox News. It was initially reported that the truck crossed the border two days ago.
Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser told WDBU officials are probing if the attack was connected to ISIS and if the flag displayed on the back of the truck was connected to the group.
Witnesses claim the suspect was ‘wearing full body armor’ and ‘armed with an assault rifle.’
The driver who plowed into pedestrians celebrating the New Year in New Orleans killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens is dead following a shootout with police
The suspect rammed into the large group at high speed, then got out and started firing a weapon, witnesses said
The driver rammed into the large group at high speed, then got out and started firing a weapon, witnesses said.
Investigators later added that they found what appeared to be improvised explosives at the crash site that did not detonate.
The FBI confirmed they are investigating the attack ‘as an act of terrorism,’ the agency said in a statement.
Earlier, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the killings as a ‘terrorist attack,’ but FBI special agent Alethea Duncan then said ‘it’s not a terrorist event.’
Investigators recovered a handgun and an AR-style rifle after the shootout, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. Investigators were also combing the French Quarter for potential explosive devices
President-elect Donald Trump slammed the driver as a criminal and pledged his administration’s help to the city.
‘When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true,’ he said on Truth Social.
‘Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department. The Trump Administration will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!’
Following the horrific tragedy, an image of what appears to be a flagpole on the back of the unidentified driver’s truck circulated online
Videos circulating on social media that appear to have been recorded at the scene shows multiple casualties on the ground as shots ring out in the background
Following the horrific tragedy, an image of what appears to be a flagpole on the back of the unidentified driver’s truck circulated online, sparking mass speculation.
Photos taken after the collision show what appears to be a metallic gray jacket wrapped around a flagpole, but a video shot earlier in the morning shows what appears to be a black flag dangling from the same ‘pole’.
It is unclear if it was placed there before or after the heinous attack.
NOLA police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the man intentionally drove the truck into the crowd at a high speed to cause chaos.
‘It was very intentional behavior… this man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,’ she said. ‘He was hellbent on creating the carnage that he did.’
Kirkpatrick noted it was ‘not a DUI situation and is ‘more complex and more serious based on the information we have right now.’
Videos circulating on social media that appear to have been recorded at the scene showed multiple casualties on the ground as shots ring out in the background. People were also seen running from the area.
Dozens of police officers responded to the attack and a portion of the road was cordoned off.
Paramedics and vehicles from the coroner’s office were also seen at the scene. Ambulances transported the wounded to five area hospitals.
Bourbon Street, famous for its many bars and clubs, has reportedly been shut down while investigators work the scene. People are advised to stay away from the area.
The incident came toward the end of New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans and hours before the kickoff of the AllState Bowl, a college football quarter final held in the city’s Caesars Superdome, with thousands expected to be in attendance.
