Authorities have labeled the incident an act of terrorism, as Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, and later opened fire on police officers.
He died in a shootout with law enforcement, and investigators found weapons, a suspected explosive device in the truck, and other potential explosives in the French Quarter.
The presence of an ISIS flag in the vehicle has prompted further investigations into Jabbar's possible connections to terrorist organizations. Although he is believed to have aligned himself with ISIS, no clear evidence has emerged regarding foreign involvement or direction in the attack.
Videos made by Jabbar before the incident show him claiming allegiance to ISIS, but authorities are still working to piece together the full details.
Jabbar had served in the U.S. Army for 13 years, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009-2010. He left active duty in 2015 and continued in the Army Reserve until 2020, achieving the rank of staff sergeant.
His roles included human resources and information technology. After leaving the military, Jabbar transitioned to a career in real estate, managing a Texas-based company, Blue Meadow Properties LLC.
In 2020, he appeared in a promotional video where he discussed how his military experience had shaped his approach to business, particularly his skills in negotiation and service.
Though Jabbar had some minor legal issues in the past, including a misdemeanor charge for property theft in 2002 and an arrest for driving with an invalid license in 2005, he had no violent criminal history.
His personal life included a divorce in 2022 after five years of marriage, without a child. Jabbar's actions on New Year's Day have stunned both the community in New Orleans and the nation, as authorities continue to investigate his motives.
The FBI and local law enforcement are actively working to identify possible accomplices, believing Jabbar did not act alone. "We are aggressively pursuing every lead, including those linked to his associates," said FBI Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan.
Investigators also found precursor chemicals at Jabbar's residence in Houston, which are commonly used in explosives, raising concerns that the attack may have been part of a broader plan.
While there is no confirmed link between this attack and other recent incidents, such as a separate explosion near a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, investigators are exploring all possibilities.
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