New information about Shamsud Din Jabbar, the perpetrator of the New Orleans truck attack that killed 14 people and injured dozens, reveals he was a U.S. Army veteran who had been grappling with personal and financial difficulties before the incident.
• Personal Background:
• Jabbar, 42, grew up in Texas and had recently faced challenges following his second divorce in September 2022.
• Financial struggles included $16,000 in credit card debt and being over $27,000 behind on his mortgage, despite earning $10,000 per month as an employee at Deloitte, one of the world’s largest tax and consulting firms.
• Signs of Radicalization:
• He displayed an ISIS flag on his truck and posted videos online declaring allegiance to the group shortly before the attack.
• Officials are still investigating the cause of his radicalization but noted that he was killed during a gunfight with police after the attack.
• Family Comments:
• Jabbar’s half-brother, Abdul Rahim Jabbar, stated: “He was a smart, funny, kind, and loving person. This level of malice wasn’t in him. We’re trying to understand what changed.”
• Abdul Rahim also mentioned Jabbar had recently recommitted to Islam after stepping away from the faith in his 20s and 30s.
• Response from Deloitte:
• In a statement, the company said: “We were shocked to learn that the individual identified as the suspect had been associated with our firm.”
Jabbar’s story raises questions about the personal and social factors that may have led to his radicalization and the deadly attack.
