Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, the suspect in yesterday’s deadly New Year’s Day attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, had substantial connections to the state of Georgia. Jabbar, who drove a rented truck into a crowd, killing 15 people and injuring over 30, was a former Georgia State University (GSU) student and resident of metro Atlanta.
Jabbar earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Computer Information Systems from GSU in 2017. He attended the university from 2015 to 2017, during which he lived in Georgia. Officials confirmed that he had addresses in both DeKalb and Cobb counties during his time in the state. Court records reveal that he was married in DeKalb County in 2013 and filed for divorce in 2016, listing a Clarkston apartment as his residence. Additionally, Jabbar owned and managed a property on Horseshoe Creek Drive in Marietta, which he later sold.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reported that Jabbar, a U.S. citizen born in Texas, had an extensive military background. He served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2015, including a deployment to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010. Following active duty, he continued his service in the Army Reserve until 2020. His roles included Human Resource Specialist and Information Technology Specialist, and he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Neighbors and records provide a mixed picture of Jabbar’s time in Georgia. While some Cobb County residents recalled his involvement as a landlord, neighbors in Clarkston did not recognize him. Jabbar’s military service and time in the state are part of a broader investigation into his background and motives.
The FBI continues to lead the investigation and ask that anyone with information contact the FBI’s New Orleans Bureau by phone at (504) 816-3000 or by email at tips@fbi.gov
