The suspect, Shamsud Din Jabbar was shot and killed by police, officials said.
NEW ORLEANS — A suspect who was "hellbent" on killing as many people as possible drove a pickup truck around barricades and plowed his vehicle through a crowd of New Year's revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans at a high rate of speed, leaving at least 10 dead and injuring dozens of others early Wednesday, city and federal officials said.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the horrific incident a "terrorist attack" and the FBI said it was being investigated as an act of terror.
Get the latest live updates here.
A suspect who was "hellbent" on killing as many people as possible drove a pickup truck around barricades and plowed his vehicle through a crowd of New Year's revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans at a high rate of speed, leaving at least 15 dead and injuring dozens of others early Wednesday, city and federal officials said.
After mowing down numerous people over a three-block stretch on the famed thoroughfare while firing shots into the crowd, the suspect — identified by the FBI as Shamsud Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran — allegedly got out of the truck wielding an assault rifle and opened fire on police officers, law enforcement officials briefed on the incident told ABC News. Officers returned fire, killing the suspect who was not immediately identified, sources said. At least two police officers were shot and wounded, authorities said.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said the FBI is investigating this matter as an act of terrorism.
The New Orleans truck attack suspect spoke on his background in a now-removed YouTube video posted in 2020.
Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, said he was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas and spent a decade working in the U.S. military before becoming a realtor in the Houston area.
His years in the military were spent working as a human resources and IT specialist, Jabbar said in the video that has since been removed from YouTube following Wednesday's attack.
Family members and friends have begun identifying the 15 people who died in the truck-ramming attack early Wednesday morning on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Here's what we know about the victims so far:
Nicole Perez, 27 has been confirmed as one of the victims by Kimberly Usher-Fall, her employer and family spokesperson.
Perez leaves behind a 4-year-old son, Melo.
"It is with sadness that I write this GoFundMe. My friend and my manager of our store, Nicole, was killed this morning in the attack on New Orleans Bourbon Street," Usher-Fall wrote.
"She was so beautiful and full of life. Her son Melo is now without his momma, and we are without our friend and dedicated employee. I'm hoping to get some help for her burial expenses and to help her son with expenses he will need to transition into a new living situation."
Reggie Hunter's death was confirmed by his first cousin, Shirell Jackson.
"He did not deserve this," she told ABC News' Diane Macedo. "It's senseless and cruel. I wish none of this had ever happened."
Jackson said Hunter, 37, leaves behind two sons. She described him as the "life of the party" with a big heart who was funny, loving and caring.
"This is hurting all of us differently and on so many levels," she said. "We were expecting so much life to live with our cousin … Just a beautiful person that did not deserve this and had so much life to live."
An image of suspect Shamsud Din Jabbar has been released.
New Orleans police have reviewed surveillance video that appears to show several people planting potential explosive devices in advance of the vehicle ramming, leading the FBI to conclude the driver of the pickup truck was not "solely responsible" for the attack, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Investigators are urgently working to identify the individuals who were seen on camera and take them into custody.
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