New Orleans Terror Attack. What we have learned:
It has been more than 24 hours following the tragedy along Bourbon Street in New Orleans that is being investigated as a terrorist attack. Here is what we have learned so far:
THE ATTACK
The ordeal began around 3:17 A.M. on New Year’s Day when a man drove a truck into a massive crowd striking multiple people. After crashing, the suspect reportedly opened fire on responding officers, who returned fire.
Image: EarthCam via Youtube
The suspect was struck and subsequently declared deceased on scene. During the gunfire, two NOPD officers were struck and injured in the exchange. Both were transported via EMS to a local hospital and were last listed in stable condition.
Local media identified the suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas.
Image: Federal Bureau of Investigations
“He was driving a Ford pickup truck, which appears to have been rented, and we are working to confirm how the subject came into possession of the vehicle,” FBI New Orleans said. “An ISIS flag was located in the vehicle, and the FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations.”
According to police, 15 people have died, including the suspect, and 35 others were wounded in the attack. Local media states multiple IED’s were found at the scene, and have since been detonated.
UA STUDENT KILLED
As the investigation continues to unfold, so does information about the victims. The University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell announced New Year’s night that one of the students at The University of Alabama, was killed in the terrorist attack in New Orleans. The student was identified as Kareem Badawi.
“I grieve alongside family and friends of Kareem in their heartbreaking loss,” Bell said. “Our staff have been actively engaged in supportive outreach and the Office of Student Care and Well Being is available at 205-348-2461 or [email protected]. Please take a moment to pray for those impacted by this tragedy.”
UGA STUDENT INJURED
UGA President Jere W. Morehead confirmed University of Georgia student was critically injured in the attack and is receiving medical treatment.
“I have spoken to the student’s family and shared my concern, support and well wishes on behalf of the entire UGA community,” Morehead said. “I would like to express my gratitude to all the first responders who moved so quickly to help those affected by this senseless act of violence, as well as to the medical personnel who are caring for the injured.”
AUBURN UNIVERSITY GRADUATE KILLED
Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts has announced one of their 2023 graduates was killed in the New Orleans attack.
Image: Auburn University
Drew Dauphin was identified as the graduate.
“Words cannot convey the sorrow the Auburn Family feels for Drew’s family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” President Christopher B. Roberts said. “Our thoughts are with the Dauphin family and the families of all the victims of this senseless tragedy.”
DECEASED VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
According to WVUE FOX 8, family members and school communities have identified six victims killed in the New Year’s Day terror attack on Bourbon Street.
Nikyra Dedeaux (Image: Melissa Dedeaux via Facebook)
Hubert Gauthreaux (Image: Archbishop Shaw High School)
Tiger Bech (Image: WVUE FOX 8)
Nicole Perez (Image: WVUE FOX 8)
Reggie Hunter (Image: 11Alive)
Kareem Badawi (Image: AL.com)
Matthew Tenedorio (Image: 11Alive)
Drew Dauphin
So far, 7 of the 14 deceased victims have been identified.
Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, was set to begin nursing program.
Hubert Gauthreaux, 21, was a 2021 graduate from Archbishop Shaw High School.
Matthew Tenedorio, 25, was an audiovisual technician for the Superdome.
Tiger Bech, 28, was a former Princeton football player.
Nicole Perez, 28, a mother of a 4-year-old son.
Reggie Hunter, 37, a father of two sons.
Kareem Badawi, age not released, attended University of Alabama and was a member of one of the fraternity’s at the university.
Drew Dauphin, age not released, graduated from Auburn University in 2023.
SUGAR BOWL POSTPONED
The Allstate Sugar Bowl was scheduled for New Year’s night between Georgia Bulldogs and Notre Dame.
After numerous discussions with local, state, federal officials, it was decided the game would be postponed to Thursday, January 2, 2024 and moved from 8 P.M. time slot to 4 P.M. slot.
Both teams, and other persons involved with the teams, have been accounted for.
SEARCH WARRANT OF HOUSTON, TX HOME
Hours after the attack, FBI Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office executed a court-authorized search of a location near the intersection of Hugh Road and Crescent Peak Drive.
Image: Katiera Winfrey KHOU via Twitter/X
“At this time, no arrests have been made, and FBI personnel will be at the scene for several more hours,” FBI Houston announced in a press release shortly after 10 P.M. EST. “Throughout this operation, we have deployed specialized teams including our FBI SWAT team, Crisis Negotiators, Special Agent Bomb Technicians, Tactical Operations Center, Evidence Response Team, and a group of counterterrorism investigators. We are grateful for the substantial assistance provided by our partners at the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HI).”
The public is asked to avoid that area and a temporary flight restriction has been implemented.
THE STATE OF THE INVESTIGATION RIGHT NOW — 11:56 A.M. EDT
FBI special agents and our law enforcement partners have been conducting a number of court-authorized search warrants in New Orleans and other states.
“The FBI’s Evidence Response Team continues to process the crime scene to meticulously gather all relevant evidence,” said Wednesday night. “The FBI plans to turn over the Bourbon Street crime scene to local authorities by early tomorrow morning. Additional FBI resources, including victim specialists, are responding to assist victims and family members.”
This morning, in a press conference, FBI announced Shamsud-Din Jabbar attacked alone in the New Orleans attack and he joined ISIS before the summer and provided a will and testament. FBI announced they don’t believe the public is in danger right now in New Orleans, after doing a thorough investigation.
In reference to the IED’s, two were found in coolers near Bourbon Street. FBI says they are the only devices found and surveillance video confirms Jabbar did place the devices.
FBI has said there is no “definitive” link between the attack in New Orleans and the Tesla attack and fire in Las Vegas.
HOW TO GIVE INFORMATION
Anyone with information related to the New Orleans attack is encouraged to submit tips online at http://www.fbi.gov/bourbonstreetattack or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
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