UPDATE #1: Authorities reported that the death toll has risen to 15. Jabbar, the suspect, served in the United States Army from March 2007 to January 2015. He finished an 11-month tour in Afghanistan in 2009/2010. After leaving active duty, he worked as a reserve until July 2020.
UPDATE #2 at 3:12 PM: The FBI Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are conducting law enforcement operations near the intersection of Hugh Road and Crescent Peak Drive in north Houston.
They have established a perimeter around the area and are asking residents to avoid it. This activity is linked to the attack in New Orleans. Due to the ongoing investigation, no additional information can be provided.
Original Post:
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) investigated a tragic incident that occurred early on January 1, 2025, at the intersection of Bourbon and Canal streets.
A pickup truck collided with a crowd of pedestrians, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. The suspected shooter was also killed after opening fire on responding officers.
At about 3:17 a.m., NOPD officers received reports of a vehicle colliding with pedestrians on Bourbon Street. Initial investigations revealed that 10 victims were declared dead at the scene, while approximately 35 others were injured.
The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. There have been no updates on their conditions at this time.
After the crash, the suspect reportedly exited the vehicle and opened fire on law enforcement officers. Officers returned fire, hitting the suspect, who was declared dead on the scene. Two NOPD officers were injured during the exchange and taken to a local hospital, where they are in stable condition.
Authorities have identified Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a Texas resident and United States citizen, as the suspect. He was driving a rented Ford pickup truck, and authorities are investigating how he obtained the vehicle.
The FBI initiated an investigation into the incident as a potential terrorist attack after discovering an ISIS flag inside the truck. The vehicle contained weapons and a potential improvised explosive device (IED).
Additionally, local law enforcement and FBI bomb technicians are collaborating to assess and neutralize any potentially dangerous devices after discovering IEDs in the French Quarter.
The FBI is the lead agency in the ongoing investigation, and it is collaborating with the NOPD and other partners to determine the suspect’s connections and affiliations. Authorities are following all leads to identify potential accomplices.
The public should avoid Bourbon Street from Canal to Dumaine Streets, as well as the surrounding areas, including Royal Street and Dauphine Street, while the scene is active due to the ongoing investigation.
We encourage anyone looking to contact family or friends who may have been in the area at the time of the incident to call 311. Only make emergency calls when absolutely necessary.
The FBI has set up a digital tip line, and we ask anyone with information or video of the incident to submit them to www.fbi.gov/bourbonstreetattack or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
List of victims (will be updated as more information is released)
- Tiger Bech , aged 27, originally from Lafayette, LA. Bech was a former football player at STM , then at Princeton University .
- Reggie Hunter , aged 37, from Baton Rouge, LA. He was a warehouse manager and a father of two.
- Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux , aged 18, from Gulfport, MS. Graduated from Harrison Central High School in Gulf Port and was to start nursing program at Blue Cliff College this month. In a facebook post, her Mom said that she told Nikyra not to go out for New Year’s Eve.
- Nicole Perez , aged 28, from Metairie, LA. A mother of a four-year-old boy.
