Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old former army sergeant, was once described as smart and affable by his military colleagues. However, years of increasing financial and familial pressures culminated in a deadly New Year’s Day truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 14 and injuring dozens more. His transformation into the individual authorities now classify as a terrorist shocked those who knew him before his descent into religious extremism.
Trevor Neill, a classmate from Jabbar’s 2010 IT training at Fort Gordon, described him as a “cool, chill guy” during their time together, expressing disbelief at his radicalization. Similarly, Peter Heap, another classmate, highlighted Jabbar’s exceptional talent and lack of controversial behavior during their studies. While Heap later noticed pro-Islamic posts on Jabbar’s Facebook, they didn’t exhibit the extremism that ultimately defined his actions.
Jabbar’s family history provides a complex backdrop. His father converted to Islam, but the family, including Jabbar and his brothers, didn’t lead particularly religious lives. After his parents’ divorce, Jabbar attended the University of Houston, where he enjoyed college life but struggled academically, losing a scholarship due to excessive partying. His eight years in the US Army, including a deployment to Afghanistan, provided a period of stability and discipline, according to a half-brother.
Following his military service, Jabbar studied at Georgia State University and later secured a position at Deloitte, a major accounting firm. However, a series of three divorces and significant financial burdens, including alimony and child support payments, undermined his stability. Court records reveal ongoing financial struggles, including a 2021 order to pay $1,350 monthly in spousal support and foreclosure proceedings on a property. He even began working in real estate with family members, partly due to his growing debts.
Around a year before the attack, Jabbar’s behavior became erratic, prompting concerns from a former wife and her husband who requested limited contact with their children. This period coincided with a perceived intensification of his religious views. The October 2023 Israel-Hamas war further fueled his radicalization, leading him to express extreme views against earthly pleasures and promoting hardline interpretations of Islam through online postings. He shared recordings on SoundCloud criticizing various aspects of modern life, portraying them as contrary to religious teachings.
Approximately 18 months prior to the attack, Jabbar moved into a mobile home in a Houston neighborhood known for its devout Muslim community. However, he wasn’t a regular attendee at nearby mosques. The FBI revealed that Jabbar began expressing support for the Islamic State (ISIS) this past summer, and shortly before the attack, he posted five online videos. One video detailed his initial plan to target family and friends before deciding to focus on a broader “war between believers and disbelievers.”
On January 1st, Jabbar drove a rented truck displaying an ISIS flag into a crowd celebrating New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street, firing a rifle before being fatally shot by police. He failed to detonate homemade bombs he had planted. The attack resulted in 14 deaths and over 35 injuries, impacting individuals from New Orleans, other US states, and even a British national. The tragedy cast a pall over the city’s planned celebrations and economic prospects, leaving residents heartbroken and questioning their future.