The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified and named Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a Texas native, as the prime perpetrator in the New Orleans attack on New Year’s Day that killed nearly 15 people, while the FBI are still searching for the complete network linked to the terror act.
The FBI stated that it is investigating an Islamic State group flag found in the truck used in the attack. It suspected Jabbar “was not solely responsible.” Several improvised explosive devices were found and destroyed, officials added. Before being shot dead by police, Jabbar killed at least 15 people and injured many more.
Who was Shamsud-Din Jabbar
The main perpetrator of the shocking New Orleans attack, Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar was a 42-year-old man born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, US. He served in the US Army from 2007 to 2015, where he worked in human resources and information technology roles.
Jabbar was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010 and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant before being honourably discharged. After his active duty service, he continued in the Army Reserve as an IT specialist until 2020. He briefly enlisted in the Navy in 2024 but was discharged before attending boot camp.
A graduate of Georgia State University, where Jabbar received his degree in computer information systems. He later transitioned to civilian life and became a Realtor in the Houston area. He also was a staff-level employee in high-powered accounting firms, among which are Deloitte, where he earned approximately US 120,000 annually.
Turbulent Past
Jabbar had led an extremely turbulent personal life, he was divorced twice, court documents show. His first wife sued him in 2012 over child support soon after he filed for divorce, and the court ordered him to pay amounts that increased over the years as his income grew. The case was dismissed in 2022.
In 2020, a Texas judge granted Jabbar’s second wife a restraining order against him during their divorce case. The order mandated Jabbar to refrain from threats, physical harm, or other stipulated behavior against his ex-wife and either of their children. It required her to avoid the same behavior. In a court filing, Jabbar’s ex-wife stated the marriage had become “insupportable because of discord or a conflict of personalities.”
In recent years, the 42-year-old appears to have struggled with his finances. In a January 2022 email filed as part of his divorce case, he wrote that he could not afford a mortgage payment on his house, which he said was more than $27,000 past due and “in danger of foreclosure” if his divorce settlement was further delayed.
Jabbar also stated in the email that a business he had formed, Blue Meadow Properties, had lost about $28,000 the prior year, and that other businesses he formed weren’t worth any money. He added that he had incurred about $16,000 in credit card debt.
Criminal records in Texas show that Jabbar had previously been charged with minor infractions — once in 2002 for a misdemeanor theft and once in 2005 for driving with an invalid license.
Religious Affiliation
At some point, Jabbar converted to Islam, which appeared to mark a turning point in his life. Family members and acquaintances described him as having acted erratically in recent months, including drastic changes in appearance and behaviour. Jabbar expressed radicalized views, reportedly showing admiration for the Islamic State group and expressing a desire to harm others. Authorities linked him to an attack in New Orleans and found an ISIS flag on his vehicle.
At first, Jabbar’s professional life looks successful; however, personal and financial difficulties, combined with a dramatic change in belief, seem to have contributed to his radicalization and eventual criminal behaviour.
In a series of recovered videos, the suspect in the deadly New Year’s attack in New Orleans discussed plans to kill his family and having dreams that helped inspire him to join ISIS, according to multiple officials briefed on the investigation.
Jabbar, made references in the videos to his divorce and how he had at first planned to gather his family for a “celebration” with the intention of killing them, two officials who had been briefed on the recordings said. But Jabbar said in the videos that he had changed his plans and joined ISIS and referenced several dreams that he had about why he should be joining the terrorist group, according to the officials.
The videos in question appear to have been recorded while Jabbar was driving at night, the officials said, although the exact timing is unclear.
From his first marriage Jabbar had two daughters, ages 15 and 20, who “are a mess” after the attack. In recent months, Jabbar had been reportedly acting erratically, “being all crazy, cutting his hair.” His wife then stopped allowing the daughters to see him.
About a year ago, Shamsud-Din Jabbar moved into a rented home in a Muslim neighborhood north of Houston. On Wednesday, much of the neighborhood, including its local mosque, was blocked off by law enforcement as FBI investigators continue their investigations in the area.
