A Texas man drove a pickup truck flying an ISIS flag into New Year’s Day crowds on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 15 and injuring over 30. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.

The driver, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen and Army veteran, crashed his vehicle into revelers at 3:15 a.m. before opening fire on police, wounding two officers. Jabbar died during the gunfight. Authorities discovered weapons and potential improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the rented truck and defused two additional IEDs in the French Quarter.

Witnesses described chaos as Jabbar’s truck plowed through crowds, leaving bodies strewn across the street. Jimmy Cothran, observing from a nightclub balcony, recounted seeing people “horribly disfigured,” including a victim with tire marks. Disturbing videos shared on social media captured the aftermath.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar in a YouTube video in 2020.

Jabbar, an Army veteran who served from 2006 to 2020, deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. While no active manhunt is underway, the FBI continues to probe his connections. Several individuals initially considered suspects in the placement of additional IEDs were later cleared.

Among the dead was Reggie Hunter, 37, a father of two, whose injuries included a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding. Another victim, Tiger Bech, a standout athlete from St. Thomas More Catholic High School, was also killed.

Police investigators surround a white truck that crashed into a work lift in the French Quarter of New Orleans on Wednesday.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick stated that Jabbar was intent on maximum destruction. Despite safety measures such as bollards, the attacker maneuvered around them. Mayor LaToya Cantrell acknowledged that ongoing construction on security barriers left the area vulnerable. She pledged improvements before the Super Bowl in February.

The Sugar Bowl, originally scheduled for Wednesday at the Superdome, was postponed until Thursday, with heightened security measures.

New Orleans, typically a hub for celebration, now grapples with tragedy. Mayor Cantrell assured residents, “We will do everything to bring justice.”