The man who committed what the FBI has deemed a terrorist attack in New Orleans early Wednesday morning was a Beaumont native who lived in the Houston area in recent years.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more when he plowed a rented pickup truck into a crowd in New Orleans’s French Quarter. He shot two first responders during a shootout before he was killed by police on scene.
President Joe Biden confirmed Wednesday evening that Jabbar uploaded social media videos hours before the attack where he allegedly said he was inspired by ISIS. An ISIS flag was also found in the vehicle used in the attack. The FBI is still working to confirm what his relation to terrorist organizations could be, and they believe he did not act alone.
Jabbar worked for a Houston real estate company in recent years, though records from Texas Real Estate Commission show his real estate license expired in February 2023.
On Wednesday afternoon, the FBI and the Harris County Sheriff’s office deputies descended upon a home near the intersection of Hugh Road and Crescent Peak Drive in north Harris County, where public records indicate Jabbar lived. Records also list previous addresses for Jabbar in Fresno, Fort Bend County and Beaumont.
“We have secured a perimeter in that area and are asking people to avoid the area. FBI Houston personnel and specialized teams will be on-site for several hours. This activity is related to this morning’s New Orleans attack, but due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further information can be provided,” the FBI said in a statement.
A U.S. Army spokesperson confirmed that Jabbar was deployed to Afghanistan from Feb. 2009 to Jan. 2010 during his eight years in the Army. Jabbar first enlisted in the Army in 2007 and earned the rank of Staff Sergeant at the end of his service in 2015. He was also an IT Specialist for the Army Reserve from 2015 until 2020.
Houston Landing reporters on the scene witnessed authorities bring out an armored vehicle dubbed the “Rook.” The large piece of construction equipment modified for law enforcement purposes has been used in Houston to tear into homes during police standoffs.
Jabbar also worked for the U.S. military from 2007 to 2020 in human resources and information technology roles, a U.S. Army spokesperson said. He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010. He held the rank of Staff Sergeant at the end of service.
Jabbar used an assault rifle in the Wednesday attack, and was also in the possession of a handgun, ABC news reported. Explosive devices were located in the French Quarter, and surveillance footage being investigated by the FBI shows four currently unidentified people placing one of the explosive devices, driving their theory that more people were involved in the attack.
Fort Bend County court records show Jabbar married in 2017 and divorced in 2021.
Public records illustrate that Jabbar had a minor criminal history several decades ago. Jabbar was arrested by Katy police in 2002 and charged with misdemeanor theft, though court records do not show what he was accused of stealing. In exchange for pleading guilty, Jabbar was granted nine months of deferred adjudication and fined $100. Deferred adjudication, a type of probation, is typically granted to first-time offenders.
In 2005, Jabbar was arrested by Beaumont police for driving with a suspended license. He pleaded no contest, meaning that while he did not admit guilt, he accepted a punishment of six months probation.
Editor’s note: The FBI clarified this morning that 14 people were killed in the attack. Also, the suspected was killed in the aftermath of the attack. This story has been updated to reflect that clarification.