Ex-Soldier Behind Deadly New Orleans Truck Attack: A Complex Life Unraveled
BEAUMONT, Texas — Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran and Houston resident, carried a life marked by professional achievements and personal struggles before his shocking act of violence on New Year’s Eve.
Authorities say Jabbar drove a rented Ford F-150 truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring at least 30 others, in what officials have called an attack inspired by the Islamic State (IS).
The attack ended when Jabbar, wearing a ballistic vest and helmet, exited the vehicle and exchanged gunfire with police. He injured two officers before being fatally shot.
A Troubled Past
Jabbar, a U.S. citizen born and raised in Texas, served in the Army from 2007 to 2020, including a deployment to Afghanistan.
After transitioning to civilian life, he pursued higher education at Georgia State University, earning a degree in computer information systems in 2017. He also built a real estate business and worked for Deloitte, earning $120,000 annually.
Despite these accomplishments, Jabbar faced personal and financial setbacks. Divorce records reveal he finalized his third divorce in 2022 and was struggling with mounting debt. He reported being $27,000 behind on his mortgage and incurred significant losses from his real estate ventures.
Radicalization and Warning Signs
Hours before the attack, Jabbar posted videos on Facebook pledging allegiance to IS, and an IS flag was discovered in the truck. Family members and friends, however, expressed shock at his actions, describing him as calm and devout.
His younger brother, Abdur-Rahim Jabbar, said Shamsud-Din had grown increasingly distant but showed no signs of radicalization or anger. “Nothing about his demeanor seemed off. He was just his calm, well-mannered self,” he told reporters.
A childhood friend and fellow veteran, Chris Pousson, shared a similar sentiment. “I never saw this coming. If I had seen any red flags, I would have contacted the authorities,” he said.
Life of Turmoil
Jabbar’s life had become increasingly strained in recent years. Financial records indicate his businesses were losing money, and he was carrying $16,000 in credit card debt. He also struggled with the fallout from his divorces and was described by his brother as blaming himself for the breakdowns in his marriages.
His erratic behavior in recent months led one of his ex-wives to restrict his access to their daughters, according to her current husband, Dwayne Marsh.
Community and FBI Response
The FBI conducted a search of Jabbar’s last known residence in Houston but has not disclosed further findings. The small, gated community where he lived remained under lockdown in the days following the attack.
As investigators piece together the motivations behind the tragedy, the community grapples with the aftermath of one of the deadliest IS-inspired attacks in the U.S. in recent years.
“This is a tragic and devastating event,” said an FBI spokesperson. “We are working diligently to uncover every detail about this incident and ensure the safety of our communities.”
Friends and family are left searching for answers. “This was not the man we knew,” said Abdur-Rahim. “We’re struggling to understand how this happened.”
