FBI Releases New Photos Showing New Orleans Suspect an Hour Before Attack

The FBI on Thursday released new photos showing Shamsud-Din Jabbar one hour before authorities say he plowed a car into a crowd on New Orleans' Bourbon Street on New Year's Day.

The Context

Wednesday's early morning attack sent shock waves through the nation and was one of the deadliest terror attacks in U.S. history. At least 15 people were killed in the attack and dozens were injured.

Law enforcement officials said the suspect drove a pickup truck into the unsuspecting crowd, then got out and opened fire before dying in a shootout with local police officers. Authorities later said they found an Islamic State flag in the pickup truck.

What To Know

The FBI identified Jabbar as the suspect on Wednesday and said he was a Texas citizen and Army veteran. They added that the white Ford pickup truck the suspect drove into the crowd was rented in Houston.

Federal agents are conducting a number of court-authorized searches in New Orleans and in other states in connection to the investigation into the attack, the FBI said.

"The FBI's Evidence Response Team continues to process the crime scene to meticulously gather all relevant evidence," it added. "The FBI plans to turn over the Bourbon Street crime scene to local authorities by early tomorrow morning. Additional FBI resources, including victim specialists, are responding to assist victims and family members."

President Joe Biden said the FBI had shared details about Jabbar's possible motives with him, including that he had posted social media videos hours before the attack which "indicate that he's inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill."

"The ISIS flag was found in his vehicle, which he rented to conduct this attack," Biden said. "Possible explosives were found in the vehicle as well and more explosives were found nearby."

The president also referenced another attack that was carried out several hours later in which a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Authorities said the driver of the truck, who was identified as U.S. Army veteran Matthew Livelsberger, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound before the explosion. Seven people were also injured.

Biden said officials were investigating whether there are any links between the two attacks and said that "thus far, there's nothing to report on that score," adding that "no one should jump to conclusions." The FBI also said there's "no definitive link" between the two deadly incidents.

What People Are Saying

President-elect Donald Trump tied the New Orleans attack, which was carried out by a U.S. citizen, to Biden's immigration policies, writing on Truth Social: "Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership. The DOJ, FBI, and Democrat state and local prosecutors have not done their job."

House Speaker Mike Johnson also linked the attacks to Biden's immigration policies, saying on FOX & Friends: "We here in the House and the Senate have repeatedly asked the DHS under the Biden Administration about the correlation—the obvious concern—about terrorism and the wide open border. The idea that dangerous people were coming here in droves and setting up potentially terrorist cells around the country."

What Happens Next

The FBI said it is still in the early stages of its investigation into the New Orleans attack but encouraged anyone who thinks they may have relevant information to contact the New Orleans field office by calling (504) 816-3000, emailing tips@fbi.gov, or submitting photo and video footage online.