5 Critical Facts about the Terrorist Attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas

1. The New Orleans Attacker Was a U.S. Citizen

The man who law enforcement say drove the truck through a crowd on Bourbon Street is Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas and an Army veteran. He enlisted in 2006 and "spent nine years on active duty as an administrative clerk, with a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009," according to The Times-Picayune newspaper. Jabbar, 42, was discharged honorably in 2020. He and his wife divorced in 2022. He has two daughters. 

According to records, he held a real estate license from 2019 to 2023 and worked at Deloitte, one of the nation's leading financial services firms, the newspaper said. Jabbar lived approximately two years in a mobile home in north Houston before informing his landlord about a month ago that he was moving to New Orleans as a renter, the landlord told The Times-Picayune Wednesday.

Law enforcement found an ISIS flag on Jabbar's vehicle. The New York Times interviewed Abdur Jabbar, 24, his younger brother. He said Shamsud-Din was Muslim. 

"But what he did does not represent Islam," the younger Jabbar said. "This is more some type of radicalization, not religion."

Prior to the attack, Shamsud-Din Jabbar recorded videos on social media saying he was inspired by ISIS.

The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. 

2. FBI Says the New Orleans Attacker Likely Acted Alone

Contrary to reports on Wednesday, the FBI said Thursday Jabbar likely acted alone. 

"This was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act," Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said Thursday.

Raia then added, "We do not assess, at this point, that anyone else is involved in this attack except for Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the subject you've already been briefed on."

"We do not believe the public is in any danger," Raia said.

Law enforcement recovered three phones linked to Jabbar, as well as two laptops. 

Raia's statement about the attacker acting alone contradicted one from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who told NBC News Wednesday, "I can tell you with some certainty that there are multiple individuals who are involved."

Landry, the governor, defended the change in the position of law enforcement.  

"Sometimes the information we put out, we end up finding out that it may be incorrect," he added, saying law enforcement was being transparent.  

3. Officials Are Investigating Ties between New Orleans and Las Vegas

The driver of a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Las Vegas Trump International Hotel on New Year's Day was identified Thursday as Matthew Livelsberger, an Army soldier from Colorado, NewsNation reported. Seven people were injured in the explosion, although none of the injuries were life-threatening. Livelsberger died. 

According to an Army spokesperson, Livelsberger was on active duty from January 2006 to March 2011, NewsNation reported. He then became a member of the National Guard, serving from March 2011 to July 2012. Later that year, he joined the Army Reserve, serving until December 2012, when he returned to active duty as part of the Army Special Operations Forces.

"Livelsberger was assigned to the command and on approved leave at the time of his death. USASOC is in full cooperation with federal and state law enforcement agencies, but as a matter of policy, will not comment on ongoing investigations," the spokesperson said.

Law enforcement found firework mortars, gas canisters, and camping fuel in the bed of the truck. 

Livelsberger's truck was rented in Colorado.

Law enforcement is trying to determine if the incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas are connected. Both Livelsberger and Shamsud-Din Jabbar rented their vehicles on Turo. The two men also served on the same military base.

4. Barriers on Bourbon Street Were Being Replaced

The New Orleans attacker was able to drive his truck down Bourbon Street because barriers that may have blocked the truck were being replaced.

The "bollards," as they are called, are stainless steel barriers that permit pedestrians to walk onto the street while blocking vehicles. 

A video of the incident shows the attacker turning right off Canal Street and onto Bourbon, driving around a police vehicle that was being used as a temporary barrier. 

"The bollard project began in November and was scheduled to last three months," The Times-Picayune reported. "It involves removing and replacing sections of road to take out the existing bollards."

5. Trump Supports Investigation

Hours after the New Orleans attack, President-elect Donald Trump posted a message on Truth Social backing the investigation. 

"Our hearts are with all of the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department," he wrote. "The Trump Administration will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!"

WATCH: FBI News Conference on New Orleans Attack and Update on Las Vegas Tesla Explosion 

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

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