Beaumont: Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the Texas man accused of driving a truck into New Year’s Day revelers in New Orleans, killing 14 and injuring dozens, was an Army veteran with a history of personal and financial struggles. He had recently renewed his Muslim faith and showed no visible signs of anger or radicalization weeks before the attack, according to his half-brother.
The Incident and Radicalization Allegations
Federal and local law enforcement authorities reported that Jabbar had an Islamic State flag on his truck during the attack and had posted a series of videos on social media pledging allegiance to the group. In one of these videos, Jabbar spoke about joining the Islamic State and expressed his desire for media coverage to focus on the “war between the believers and the disbelievers,” according to FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia.
Jabbar died in a shootout with police at the scene, and investigators are still probing his path to radicalization.
Personal Struggles and Family History
Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen raised in Texas, had been facing significant challenges in his personal life. His half-brother, Abdur Rahim Jabbar, described him as “smart, funny, charismatic, loving, and compassionate” but noted that he had been struggling with a recent divorce and failing business ventures. Abdur added, “This degree of maliciousness is not like him. We are trying to understand what changed, too.”
Jabbar’s father suffered a stroke in 2023, adding to his responsibilities. Public records show that he was behind on mortgage payments, faced foreclosure, and was dealing with significant credit card debt. Despite earning $10,000 per month as a staff member at Deloitte, he was financially strained. Deloitte confirmed Jabbar’s employment, expressing shock over his involvement in the attack.
Military Service and Radicalization
Jabbar served in the U.S. Army as a human resources and IT specialist from 2007 to 2015, with a deployment to Afghanistan in a non-combat role. He continued his service in the Army Reserve until 2020, achieving the rank of staff sergeant.
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His former commander in Afghanistan, Rich Groen, described him as a disciplined and dedicated soldier. Groen wrote, “To think that the same individual who once embodied quiet professionalism could harbor so much hate, leading to such unspeakable atrocities, is incomprehensible and heartbreaking.”
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Criminal Record and Community Perception
Jabbar’s criminal history included probation for a DUI in 2015 and minor charges in 2002 and 2005. However, he had no history of violent crimes. A childhood friend, Chris Pousson, said Jabbar’s expressions of faith were always positive. “I had no idea he was capable of doing this,” Pousson remarked.
