Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect behind the deadly New Orleans attack on New Year’s Eve made several videos while he was driving from his home in Texas to Louisiana, according to officials. The 42-year-old perpetrator in the series of videos made shocking revelations about how he planned to kill his family members and had dreams that helped inspire him to join Isis.
On Wednesday, Jabbar drove a truck into the crowd killing 15 people. The incident drew international condemnation with US President Biden decrying the “despicable attack.”
Jabbar planned a deadly celebration to target his family
According to a report from CNN, the recordings, made by the Texas-born American citizen and former Afghanistan war veteran, detailed his initial plans for a deadly “celebration” targeting his family members. Officials briefed on the footage noted that Jabbar later changed his plans and joined Isis, describing influential dreams that led to his terrorist group involvement.
Officials indicate the recordings were made during night-time driving, though the precise timing remains uncertain.
Jabbar died in a police confrontation on January 1 after the truck attack. Authorities discovered suspected explosive devices and an Isis flag in his vehicle.
Jabbar’s record: Army veteran, real estate agent, now attack suspect
Investigators are analysing these recordings to understand his transformation from military service member to attack suspect. Military records show Jabbar’s army service spanning March 2007 to January 2015 on active duty, including an Afghanistan deployment from February 2009 to January 2010. He continued in the army reserve until July 2020, achieving staff sergeant rank.
A 2020 YouTube video showed Jabbar, born in Beaumont, Texas, presenting himself as a Houston-based estate agent.
His educational background includes qualifications from Central Texas College and Georgia State University in computing-related subjects. His professional experience encompassed roles at Deloitte and Accenture in data engineering and business development.
CNN reported Deloitte’s statement, “We are shocked to learn of reports today that the individual identified as a suspect had any association with our firm. The named individual served in a staff-level role since being hired in 2021. Like everyone, we are outraged by this shameful and senseless act of violence and are doing all we can to assist authorities in their investigation.”
Records indicate his involvement in real estate education between 2018 and 2021, with a licence valid until 2023. He maintained business connections across Texas and Georgia through various registered companies.
Discord and legal troubles
Court records indicate Jabbar’s two divorces. His first marriage ended with a child support lawsuit in 2012, where payments increased alongside his rising income until the case concluded in 2022.
During his second divorce in 2020, a Texas court issued mutual restraining orders for Jabbar and his ex-wife, prohibiting threats and physical harm towards each other and their children. His ex-wife cited irreconcilable differences, saying the marriage was “insupportable because of discord or a conflict of personalities.”
Harris County records reveal Jabbar’s guilty plea to misdemeanour theft between $50 and $500 in December 2002, resulting in nine months of community supervision.
Jabbar faced fine, probation, and community service
In 2015, US district court documents from North Carolina show Jabbar pleaded guilty to driving under the influence at Fort Bragg, now Fort Liberty (North Carolina military base). The incident occurred in November 2014, when he drove with an open alcoholic container and blood alcohol levels exceeding legal limits.
He received a Level 5 DWI charge, North Carolina’s least severe category. The court suspended his driving licence, and imposed 12 months’ probation, a $200 fine, and 24 hours of community service.
The sentence included mandatory substance abuse assessment and treatment at his expense, plus participation in rehabilitation programmes as directed by the US Probation Office.
Financial woes: Jabbar’s $27K mortgage arrears, business losses revealed
The 42-year-old has experienced financial difficulties in recent times. According to a January 2022 email submitted during his divorce proceedings, he indicated his inability to meet mortgage payments, with arrears exceeding $27,000, risking foreclosure if the divorce settlement faced further delays.
In the same email, Jabbar disclosed that his venture, Blue Meadow Properties, suffered losses of approximately $28,000 in the previous year, whilst his other business ventures held no value. Additionally, he had accumulated credit card debt of about $16,000.
Jabbar rented F-150 truck for New Year’s attack
For the New Year’s incident, Jabbar rented a Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck through Turo, a peer-to-peer vehicle rental platform. The vehicle’s owner verified this rental arrangement to CNN via text message.
