New Orleans attacker transformed from a model soldier into an ISIS supporter

[ad_1] BEAUMONT, Texas — Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s highschool buddies knew him as “Sham” — an excellent scholar with a quiet disposition and a vivid future. He went on to turn out to be a mannequin soldier within the Military, the place his work ethic and perspective impressed his commander throughout a tour in Afghanistan.

“He was an excellent soldier, somebody who confirmed self-discipline and dedication,” the commander, Wealthy Groen, posted on social media.

However over the previous few years, as Jabbar labored to climb the company ladder, his life started to deteriorate. He confronted extreme cash issues and a 3rd divorce. In some unspecified time in the future, he fell beneath the sway of the Islamic State, the terrorist group generally known as ISIS.

On New Yr’s Eve, Jabbar, 42, drove a rented truck from Houston to New Orleans, authorities mentioned, posting movies on-line alongside the way in which wherein he professed his help for ISIS. As soon as he reached Bourbon Road, he planted two improvised explosive gadgets after which bought again into his truck and plowed into revelers, killing 14 earlier than police shot and killed him in a gunbattle.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar. Courtesy Abdur-Rahim Jabbar IV In some methods, Jabbar, along with his private life and funds in shambles, suits the profile of those that consultants say are most definitely to show to extremist teams to seek out which means and a way of function.

The assault has surprised and confused his family and friends members. How may somebody so sort and unassuming, some have mentioned in interviews and social media posts, find yourself finishing up such a heinous act of terrorism?

“It’s an entire shock, a shock, to everybody,” Jabbar’s half-brother, Abdur-Rahim Jabbar IV, 24, mentioned in an interview.

“There weren’t any moments main as much as this that had been obvious or crimson flags to indicate that he’s been radicalized or modified in any approach from the loving brother and father and son that everyone knows,” he mentioned.

Investigators try to establish Jabbar’s path to radicalization. At a information convention Thursday morning, regulation enforcement officers conceded that they'd little perception into his transformation.

“A variety of questions we’re nonetheless asking ourselves,” mentioned Christopher Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “What I can let you know proper now's that he was 100% impressed by ISIS. We’re digging by extra of the social media, extra interviews, working with a few of our different companions to establish slightly bit extra about that connection.”

‘Time is of the essence’ Jabbar grew up in Beaumont, a metropolis in jap Texas close to the Louisiana border. He attended Central Excessive College, the place he was identified for his well mannered, easygoing approach and polished look. He tended to put on button-up shirts and polos, former classmates mentioned.

“He was very grounded, reserved, quiet,” mentioned Chris Pousson, who attended center college and highschool with Jabbar.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar. Courtesy Abdur-Rahim Jabbar IV After he graduated in 2001, Jabbar sought to serve his nation. He initially tried to enlist within the Navy in 2004, in accordance with three U.S. protection officers, however he left after solely a month. He then joined the Military, working as a human useful resource specialist and data know-how specialist from 2007 to 2015.

His unit deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.

Groen, Jabbar’s commander, wrote on social media that he labored “quietly and professionally” as a human assets officer and mail clerk in Afghanistan, “making certain the little issues that saved us all related to dwelling had been accomplished with care and precision.”

“To suppose that the identical particular person who as soon as embodied quiet professionalism may harbor a lot hate, resulting in such unspeakable atrocities, is meaningless and heartbreaking,” added Groen, who declined an interview request.

After his time within the navy, Jabbar attended Georgia State College and majored in pc data techniques, a college spokesperson mentioned.

He was quoted in an article for the scholar newspaper in 2015 concerning the challenges navy veterans face navigating school life.

“The tradition isn’t an excessive amount of completely different however when you get out of the navy there’s so many various acronyms you’ve discovered,” Jabbar mentioned. “And as you transition out ... you don’t know communicate with out utilizing these phrases and also you’re undecided what phrases are used exterior the navy.”

He additionally mentioned veterans should be extraordinarily diligent to make sure they obtain funds by the GI Invoice.

“It’s such a big company,” he mentioned, referring to the Division of Veterans Affairs. “It's a must to do your due diligence, be sure to have your paperwork collectively.”

Jabbar appeared again fondly on his time within the service and inspired his half-brother to observe in his footsteps.

“It set him straight,” Abdur-Rahim Jabbar mentioned, referring to a interval after highschool when Jabbar was partying and had some minor run-ins with the regulation. “It gave him some self-discipline and grounded him.”

After he graduated in 2017, Jabbar tried his hand in actual property. In a promotional video posted to YouTube in 2020, he mentioned his time within the navy helped him be taught “the which means of nice service and what it means to be responsive.”

However his actual property profession was short-lived. He started working for the Deloitte consulting agency in 2021, an organization spokesperson mentioned.

By then, his life was already starting to fray. He was in divorce proceedings along with his third spouse — his first marriage ended round 2012 and his second in 2016 — and in deep monetary hassle, in accordance with courtroom information.

The corporate he shaped, Blue Meadow Properties, misplaced $28,000 in 2021 and he had $16,000 in bank card debt, he wrote in an e-mail to his then-wife’s legal professional.

“Time is of the essence,” Jabbar wrote. “I can not afford the home cost. It's late in extra of $27,000 and in peril of foreclosures if we delay settling the divorce.”

Jabbar made about $58 an hour at Deloitte and labored 40 hours per week, taking dwelling a internet earnings of $7,876.70 a month, in accordance with paperwork he filed with the courtroom.

However his month-to-month bills totaled round $9,000. In August 2022, he had solely $2,012 in his financial institution accounts, in accordance with the filings.

Regardless of his monetary troubles, Jabbar nonetheless confirmed up for his household. His half-brother mentioned that their father had a stroke in 2023 and that Jabbar steadily got here by to assist maintain him.

“He helped me bathe him, change him, feed him,” Abdur-Rahim Jabbar mentioned.

‘Prays at dwelling’ It stays unclear when Jabbar first turned drawn to ISIS. His half-brother mentioned that their father was Muslim and that Jabbar’s mom was Christian however transformed once they married.

Jabbar was open about his Muslim religion. He made it clear that he wasn’t into consuming or partying, however he didn’t discuss it in a strident approach, his half-brother mentioned.

They not often mentioned faith, however the warfare in Gaza did come up in a dialog final 12 months.

“He was upset about what’s taking place in Palestine,” Abdur-Rahim Jabbar mentioned. He remembered his brother saying “it was genocide on each side.”

Jabbar appeared to turn out to be extra religious after his most up-to-date divorce, Abdur-Rahim Jabbar mentioned, however he by no means mentioned ISIS or any radical ideologies.

“He was looking for himself,” he mentioned.

Jabbar posted audio messages about Islam to a SoundCloud account in early 2024. In a single titled “Devil’s Voice,” he describes music because the “voice of Devil.”

“It's a light, gradual luring into the issues that God has made forbidden to us — the intoxicants like marijuana, alcohol, sedatives, opioids, stimulants and others,” he says. “Then there's the way in which that music entices us to elicit intercourse, vulgarity, violence, betrayal, vanity, housebreaking, dishonest.”

Pousson, his highschool pal, mentioned Jabbar steadily posted about his Islamic religion on Fb however gave no trace of radicalization.

“It was at all times optimistic — peace be with you, uplifting sort of stuff,” Pousson mentioned. “Nothing that he posted on-line that I noticed was destructive.”

“I didn’t see this coming from a mile away,” he added.

One in all Jabbar’s neighbors in Texas mentioned he by no means noticed him on the native mosque. “He says he prays at dwelling,” mentioned the neighbor, who requested to stay nameless.

The neighbor mentioned Jabbar was “good” and “quiet” and largely saved to himself.

On the morning of New Yr’s Eve, the neighbor mentioned, he noticed Jabbar loading a white truck exterior his dwelling. The neighbor went over to see whether or not he wanted a hand, and Jabbar mentioned he was transferring to Louisiana.