Federal investigators and local law enforcement in New Orleans are trying to determine if the suspect used a long-gun rifle and whether he may have fired into the crowd while running people over, according to three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation.The suspect drove around barricades erected to stop traffic, due to his […]
New Orleans mass killing
Historic Bourbon Street, in the French Quarter, is a popular tourist area filled with bars and restaurants and was expected to be busy on New Year’s Eve.“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” Anne Kirkpatrick, superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, said at a news conference. “He was hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”Authorities found an ISIS flag, weapons and a potential improvised explosive device in the truck, which appears to have been rented, according to the FBI. The agency said it was working to determine the suspect’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations.Kirkpatrick said it was unclear how many victims were locals, but said that according to preliminary information “it seems the majority are locals versus tourists.” “It was unbelievable,” he told NBC News’ Hallie Jackson. “It just kept going.”The FBI identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas.Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the city of New Orleans was “impacted by a terrorist attack.”The FBI said it was working to investigate the incident as an act of terrorism. Improvised explosive devices were found, the FBI said, though the agency said it was working to confirm if they were viable explosives.Melissa Chan is a reporter for NBC News Digital with a focus on gun violence. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the incident a “horrific act of violence” in a post on X and said he was praying for the victims.Authorities said the suspect, who is now dead, intentionally plowed a Ford pickup truck into a large group of revelers on Bourbon Street about 3:15 a.m. in what the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism.President Biden has been briefed on the attack, according to a White House official.
At least 10 people were killed and more than 30 others were injured in New Orleans early Wednesday after a man rammed his pickup truck into a crowd during New Year’s celebrations and then shot at police officers when he crashed, officials said.Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said a statement on X: “Many of us woke up this morning to devastating news of the brutal intentional slaughter of innocent people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans. I’m praying for the victims and their families and will ensure they get justice for this appalling act.”Police said Tuesday that they expected the city to be busy as locals and visitors rang in the new year. New Orleans Police Department said it would be staffed at 100% and would draft in another 300 officers to help keep the peace.Law enforcement returned fire, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, the FBI said.Footage shot by onlookers and uploaded to social media showed a huge police presence on Bourbon Street and Canal Street.