The bustling celebration of New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street turned into a scene of terror when a speeding SUV, driven with apparent malicious intent, barreled onto the sidewalk, sending revelers scattering for their lives.
In a chilling incident captured on video, the SUV was seen mounting the sidewalk outside a Krystal’s burger restaurant around 3:15 am, narrowly missing a woman by inches as others scrambled to safety. Some darted into the street, while others sought refuge inside the fast-food joint. Miraculously, no injuries were reported, though the sheer chaos and panic reverberated through the French Quarter.
Eyewitnesses described the sound of screeching tires and what appeared to be gunshots in the background, adding to the atmosphere of fear. The manager of the restaurant confirmed that no staff members were present at the time of the incident.
The driver, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was later revealed to have swerved around makeshift barriers before plowing into the crowded area. Authorities confirmed that Jabbar’s rampage was a deliberate terror attack, leaving 15 dead and dozens injured.
‘A body came flying at me’
Witnesses reported the white pickup truck barreling through a barricade before careening into pedestrians on the crowded sidewalk.
“All I saw was a truck slamming into everyone on the left side of Bourbon sidewalk,” recalled Kevin Garcia, 22, who narrowly avoided being struck. “A body came flying at me,” he said, his voice still shaking. Moments later, gunshots rang out as the driver exited the vehicle and engaged in a gunfight with law enforcement.
Amid the pandemonium, Nicole Mowrer and her husband Jim sought refuge in a nearby alcove. “We heard gunfire, saw police running that direction,” she recounted. When the shooting ceased, they ventured into the street only to find bodies and injured victims strewn across the pavement.
Authorities acted swiftly to secure the area and evacuate survivors, urging bystanders to put away their phones and leave immediately. “Police waved us where to walk and told us to get out fast,” said Whit Davis, 22, from Shreveport. “I saw a few dead bodies they couldn’t even cover up and tons of people receiving first aid.”
By dawn, the scale of the carnage became clear. The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) confirmed the incident as a mass casualty event, with the injured rushed to five local hospitals. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described the driver as “hellbent on creating carnage and damage,” though authorities have not yet confirmed whether the attack was deliberate.
Paul Mauro, a former NYPD inspector, emphasized the growing threat of vehicle-based attacks, stating, “A 5,000-pound truck at high speed causes utter devastation. Some of the worst crime scenes you’ll ever work as a cop or EMT are vehicle accidents.” Mauro urged law enforcement to prioritize such threats as part of their standard operating procedures.
