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Tragic New Year’s Day Attack in New Orleans
A tragic incident unfolded in New Orleans on New Year’s Day when an attacker, inspired by ISIS, drove a truck into a crowd, resulting in 14 fatalities and numerous injuries. This shocking event occurred around 3:15 a.m. as revelers celebrated the onset of the new year.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the assailant, maneuvered his white F-150 truck around a police barricade at the entrance of Bourbon Street, a well-known hub for celebrations, before ramming into the gathered crowd.
According to police bodycam footage released on Friday, officers responded quickly to the situation. Officer Christian Beyer, armed and standing next to the truck’s open driver’s side door, ordered Jabbar to exit the vehicle. Officer Jacobie Jordan was also present with his weapon drawn. As Seng Mike Guasco explained, Jabbar opened fire from within the vehicle, prompting officers to take cover.
The harrowing footage shows the flash of Jabbar’s gun as he fired at close range. In response, Beyer and Jordan discharged their weapons, alongside Sgt. Nigel Daggs, who was positioned near the truck’s passenger side.
“Officers are trained for shoot situations like that — they’re highly trained, and that’s what you saw. These are split-second decisions,” stated New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick during a news conference.
While the investigation into how many shots Jabbar fired remains ongoing, Kirkpatrick assured that the officers acted within legal bounds and departmental protocols. The three officers involved, Daggs, Beyer, and Jordan, have been placed on administrative leave as is standard procedure in such cases.
Jordan, along with Sergeant Joseph Rodrigue, who did not fire his weapon but was injured during the struggle, sustained injuries that required medical attention. Kirkpatrick refrained from commenting on the nature of these injuries or whether they were due to friendly fire.
In the aftermath of the attack, questions concerning the adequacy of security measures on Bourbon Street have arisen. Kirkpatrick did not disclose detailed figures regarding officer deployment in the area during the incident but acknowledged ongoing investigations and pending litigation. Victims and families of the deceased have filed lawsuits against the city, arguing that inadequate security measures contributed to the tragedy.
Experts have previously pointed out vulnerabilities in New Orleans’ security measures toward mass shootings and vehicle attacks. A report from 2019 indicated a moderate likelihood of such incidents, underscoring the need for preventative strategies.
Concerning the day of the attack, various sources have confirmed that obstacles intended to prevent vehicular access, including a metal wedge barrier, were inoperative, raising hopes for improvements in public safety measures. One lawsuit claims there were explicit warnings about the risks of a vehicle assault on Bourbon Street.
Further scrutiny has emerged regarding Jabbar’s activities leading up to the attack, with the FBI probing his travel history, including recent trips to New Orleans and Egypt. Surveillance footage showed a man believed to be Jabbar biking through the French Quarter just weeks prior to the assault. Authorities are committed to uncovering all facets of this chilling incident as investigations continue.
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