New Orleans Terror Attack Suspect Had Ties to Georgia, Military

A man who drove a truck into a crowd on New Year's Day in New Orleans, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens more, had multiple ties to Georgia and the military, according to authorities. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas, was identified as the suspect by the FBI on Wednesday.

Jabbar, who was killed in a shootout with law enforcement at the crime scene, had lived in the Atlanta area several years ago, earned a degree from Georgia State University, and was divorced in DeKalb County, according to court records. Officials with Georgia State confirmed that Jabbar earned a BBA degree in Computer Information Systems in 2017 and had not been an active student since.

DeKalb divorce court records show that Jabbar filed for divorce from a Cobb County woman on May 19, 2016. The couple had married on September 15, 2013, and had no children. Jabbar reportedly also married and divorced in Texas.

Neighbors of Jabbar's former address in Marietta remembered him as the landlord of the house. They recalled one occasion when Jabbar asked them to keep an eye on the place while he worked on fixing it up.

FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan said in a news conference that authorities do not believe Jabbar was acting alone and are pursuing every lead, including known associates. Duncan confirmed that Jabbar was an Army veteran who was honorably discharged.

Jabbar drove a rented Ford pickup truck, which was carrying an ISIS flag, through a crowd of people on Bourbon Street. Investigators are working to determine any ties to terrorist organizations.

A video reviewed by the AJC, which Jabbar apparently posted on YouTube four years ago, showed him promoting his real estate business. In the video, Jabbar said he was from Beaumont, lived in Houston, and spent 10 years as a human resources and IT specialist in the military.