A truck crashed into a crowd of people in New Orleans’ French Quarter at 3:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day, causing 35 injuries and 14 confirmed dead.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the 42-year-old assailant, was a former member of the US Army who had sworn allegiance to the terrorist group ISIS. This attack has been classified as a terrorist act by the FBI. To find out more information about the attacker’s motivation and any associates, investigations are still being conducted.
Jabbar made two trips to New Orleans prior to the attack. Jabbar wore Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, video recording is a feature of the Meta Smart Glasses. Months in advance, Jabbar planned the attack while filming down Bourbon Street with the glasses.
Jabbar visited in both October and November, investigators are still figuring out what his motive was for coming a second time in November.
The FBI claims that Jabbar collided with a crowd on Bourbon Street with his rented Ford electric pickup truck. Following that, Jabbar struck a forklift with his Ford, got out, and started shooting at the onlookers and policemen.
Jabbar was killed on the spot after injuring two officers during the open fire.
Jabbar put two homemade explosives in a cooler on Bourbon Street just hours before the attack. There was a transmitter in his car. It was thought that the transmitter intended to detonate. Luckily, because the IEDs lacked a detonator, they never detonated. Subsequently, additional bomb-making materials were discovered in Jabbar’s Houston, Texas, home and at an Airbnb he was renting and staying at just prior to the attack.
Who is Shamsud-Din Jabbar?
Beaumont, Texas, is where Jabbar was raised. He was released from the U.S. Army in 2015 after serving in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010. Despite having been raised as a Muslim, Jabbar spent years away from the faith before reverting to it.
Jabbar confessed his loyalty to ISIS in videos he uploaded online weeks prior to the attack. Although the Las Vegas Cyber Truck explosion raised new doubts about the entire act, investigators still believe Jabbar acted alone.
The Victims
A wide range of people, including students, young professionals, and longtime residents of New Orleans, were among the attack victims. Martin “Tiger” Bech, a former football player for Princeton University who was renowned for his caring and competitive nature, was one of the people killed. Both his family and the Princeton community are deeply saddened by his passing.
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an 18-year-old high school graduate who aspired to become a nurse, also passed away tragically. Melissa Dedeaux, her mother, expressed her sorrow on social media and prayed for support during this unbearably trying time.
Another victim was Edward Pettifer, a 31-year-old British national. Prince William, whose former nanny is Pettifer’s stepmother, expressed his condolences for his passing. In their heartbreaking statement, his family described him as a “wonderful son, brother, and friend.”
Other victims included Terrence Kennedy, 63, a longtime resident who was beloved by his community, and Matthew Tenedorio, 25, an audio-visual technician at the Superdome in New Orleans. Family members characterized 37-year-old Reggie Hunter, a father of two, as vibrant and incredibly loved. Only minutes prior to the event, he had sent a message to his family.
His father remembered Kareem Badawi, a student at the University of Alabama, with deep sadness. His university was also saddened by his passing. His former high school honored 21-year-old Hubert Gauthreaux by requesting prayers for his family and soul. According to her boss, Nicole Perez, a 27-year-old mother, was a dedicated and hardworking individual. In order to teach her young son during breaks, she frequently brought him to work.
The university offered its condolences to Drew Dauphin’s family and friends and remembered the recent Auburn University graduate for his lively spirit. Lacrosse player and account executive Billy DiMaio, 25, received recognition for his diligence and upbeat demeanor. His loss was lamented by his community and school.
40-year-old Slidell, Louisiana resident Elliot Wilkinson, was loved and will be missed by his family, his brother Cecil posted on Facebook. 25-year-old Billy Dimaio was a student-athlete who graduated from Chestnut Hill College in 2022. In a statement, Dimaio’s family said, “Billy had a smile that could light up a room, and his laughter was truly infectious,” “His energetic personality inspired everyone around him. He cared for others more than himself and, as the oldest brother to Samantha and Anthony held a unique and irreplaceable role in their lives as well as cousins and friends. He will be dearly missed.”
Victims Identified in Deadly Bourbon Street Attack on New Year’s Day | wwltv.com
Both locals and visitors are paying their respects to the victims at the memorials erected throughout the French Quarter. In observance of those impacted, the Allstate Sugar Bowl between Notre Dame and Georgia was postponed.
“We are treating this as an act of terrorism and will not rest until we understand every detail,” said Christopher Raia, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI, underscoring the agency’s dedication to looking into every lead.
The city stands together in the face of tragedy, honors the survivors, and remembers those who have passed.
