On Wednesday, January 1st, a 42-year-old male intentionally drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans during the early morning on New Years Day, killing 14 people and injuring dozens.

The 42-year-old suspect was later identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar. Jabbar was shot dead by police on the scene.

In the CBS.news article FBI states, “The vehicle was an electric Ford pickup truck that appears to have been rented” (Reals, Breen, Jan. 15). Jabbar rented the truck on Dec. 30 while he was in the Houston area, before heading to New Orleans to carry out his attack.

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said he believes that the attack was premeditated and an evil act.

New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick states, “The attacker drove around barricades and up onto the sidewalk of Bourbon Street, avoiding barriers that had been placed by police. The man was trying to run over as many people as he could. We had a car there, we had barriers there, we had officers there, and he still got around” (Reals, Breen, Jan. 15).

Jabbar proceeded to exist his car and open fire on the officers who responded to the scene. He died shortly after exchanging gunfire with three responding officers. Two police officers suffered gun shot wounds were treated at a hospital.

(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, file)
At a news conference, FBI Special Agent Alethea Duncan explains, “Weapons and two potential improvised explosive devices or IEDs, were located in the vehicle” (Reals, Breen, Jan. 15).

After the attack, President Joe Biden makes a statement to all victims family members and individuals at the scene stating, “My heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday. There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of out nation’s communities’ (Reals, Breen, Jan. 15).