Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Texas, deliberately drove into New Year’s revelers in New Orleans, killing 14 people before being shot by police. Prior to the attack, he recorded videos expressing his intention to kill his family, stating he had joined ISIS. Jabbar faced significant personal struggles, including a third divorce and substantial financial debt, leading to a transformation in his religious beliefs. Though he had previously been seen as kind and unassuming, his radicalization puzzled friends and family. In 2024, he condemned music as “the voice of Satan” in audio messages shared online.
