Inside the military career of Shamsud-Din Jabbar, from Afghanistan deployment to Staff Sergeant

Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a decorated Army veteran and former Staff Sergeant, pledged allegiance to ISIS before carrying out a deadly New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans, raising questions about his radicalization and motives.

According to an Army spokesperson, Jabbar served in the U.S. Army from March 2007 to January 2015 as a Human Resource Specialist and Information Technology Specialist. He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010 and held the rank of Staff Sergeant upon leaving the service. He continued as an IT Specialist in the Army Reserve until July 2020.

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Jabbar’s service was recognized with numerous awards, including the Army Commendation Medal (three times) and Army Achievement Medal (four times). Other distinctions included the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a campaign star, NATO Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commendation (two times). He also earned badges like the Parachutist Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badge.

In a now-removed 2020 YouTube video, Jabbar described his upbringing in Beaumont, Texas, and his decade in the military, emphasizing roles in IT and human resources. Post-service, he transitioned to a career as a Houston-based realtor and shared that the city was where he had spent most of his adult life.

Investigation into New Orleans truck attack

On New Year’s Day, Jabbar drove into a crowded Bourbon Street celebration in New Orleans, ending in a deadly shootout with police. Inside his vehicle, investigators found firearms, pipe bombs, and a remote detonation device. The truck bore an Islamic State flag on its trailer hitch. Authorities confirmed Jabbar acted alone, contrary to initial suspicions of accomplices.

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The FBI detailed Jabbar’s planning, starting with renting a truck in Houston on December 30 and driving to New Orleans the next day. In a series of deleted videos, Jabbar pledged allegiance to ISIS and shared plans to attack public spaces instead of family and friends, citing a self-declared “war between believers and disbelievers.”

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