Shamsud-Din Jabbar acted alone and was “100% inspired by ISIS” when he sped into large crowds in New Orleans’ French Quarter on New Year’s Day, the FBI has confirmed.
After looking for possible associates, the Bureau now believes he worked alone to more on Bourbon Street.
FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia told a press conference: “We do not assess at this point that anyone else was involved in this attack except for Shamsud-Din Jabbar.”
Raia added that, despite habing no accomplices, Jabbar was “” after claiming to have joined the terrorist group in the summer.
Jabbar posted videos online purporting to have joined ISIS and revealing his sick plans to “harm his family and friends” before changing his mind.
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The death has risen to 15. (Image: Getty)
Raia added: “In the first video, Jabbar explains he originally planned to harm his family and friends, but was concerned the news headlines would not focus on the ‘war between the believers and the disbelievers’.”
In response to the attack, took to his social media platform Truth Social to blame Joe Bide for allowing “radical Islamic terrorism” to become “worse than ever imagined”.
The president-elect demanded the CIA intervene as Biden’s immigration policies have turned the US into a “laughing stock all over the world”, despite Jabbar being a US citizen from Texas.
He wrote: “This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership.”
Martin ‘Tiger’ Bech. (Image: Michelle Bech)
The names of some of the victims have been released by their relatives.
Martin ‘Tiger’ Bech
The former football player’s death was confirmed by Princeton University, where he attended.
“There was no more appropriate nickname of a Princeton player I coached,” Princeton football coach Bob Surace said in a statement.
“He was a ‘Tiger’ in every way – a ferocious competitor with endless energy, a beloved teammate and a caring friend.”
Posting on the social media platform X, Martin Bech’s brother, Jack, issued a tribute. “Love you always brother!” he wrote. “You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us.”
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux. (Image: Facebook)
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux
The 18-year-old was among the 15 victims. Dedeaux had travelled to New Orleans from nearby Gulfport with her cousin to welcome in the new year.
Her grieving mother Melissa Dedeaux, 40, wept as she said: “I just want to see my baby, she was the sweetest person. She would give you anything, anything.”
The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office has not officially confirmed Cheyenne Dedeaux’s death, but Melissa Dedeaux said she knows her daughter was killed.
She added: “As a mother, when my niece said they covered her with a sheet, I just knew that was it for my daughter.”
Dedeaux was due to start a nursing programme in less than two weeks as she aimed to be a nurse like her mother.
Reggie Hunter. (Image: Shirell Robinson Jackson)
Reggie Hunter
Mr Hunter’s cousin, Shirell Robinson Jackson, confirmed his death. The father of two was a store manager who was described as “full of life”. Shirell said the 37-year-old had messaged the family minutes after midnight to wish them a Happy New Near.
Mr Hunter’s younger sister, Courtney, told the NY Times her brother loved to be around the family.
Nicole Perez. (Image: Kimberly Usher fall)
Nicole Perez
The 27-year-old was a mother to a four-year-old boy. Ms Perez’s friend and boss, Kimberly Usher Fall, said she was dedicated, smart and a “”good-hearted person”, according to CBS.
Writing on an online fundraiser that Ms Fall has set up for her friend, she said “she was beautiful and full of life”.
Ms Perez used to take her son to work on his days off from school, teaching his maths in the store room between work. “She really was a good kid, man, she really was,” Ms Fall said, adding “she was just getting everything going, and she’s gone, just gone.”
Matthew Tenedorio
The 25-year-old’s mother, Cathy Tenedorio, told NBC News that she last saw her son at 21:00 on New Year’s Eve, remembering that she hugged and kissed him.
Mr Tenedorio was an audio-visual technician who had a “laid-back spirit and infectious laughter”, according to the fundraiser that his family set up in his name.