New Orleans Terror Attack: 14 Dead, Bombs Fail to Detonate

NEW ORLEANS, La. – A deadly terrorist attack on Bourbon Street during New Year’s celebrations left 14 people dead and 35 injured after a suspect, inspired by the Islamic State, drove a pickup truck into crowds and opened fire. The suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, also planted two bombs that failed to detonate due to an amateurish error, potentially averting a far greater catastrophe.

Jabbar, an Army veteran from Texas, used a powerful explosive compound known as RDX in the bombs, which could have caused widespread devastation had they detonated. Experts say the devices, placed in coolers on Bourbon Street, were improperly triggered, sparing hundreds of lives. “As horrible as it is that he killed and injured all of these people, it could have been exponentially worse,” said Scott Sweetow, a retired ATF executive.

The attack began around 3:15 a.m. on Jan. 1, when Jabbar drove his truck through a blocked-off section of Bourbon Street, a popular tourist area in the French Quarter. After crashing into crowds, he engaged in a shootout with police, who ultimately killed him. Investigators later found explosive materials at his homes in Houston and New Orleans, including RDX, a military-grade explosive rarely used in U.S. attacks.

Among the victims were LaTasha Polk, Edward Pettifer, a London resident with ties to British royalty, and Brandon Taylor, whose partner Heather Genusa mourned him on social media. Other victims included Terrence Kennedy, a lifelong New Orleans resident and sports fan, and Billy DiMaio, a New York-based media executive. Auburn University graduate Drew Dauphin and Pearl River Central High School alumnus Matthew Tenedorio were also killed.

Jabbar’s use of RDX has raised concerns among experts, who speculate he may have synthesized the explosive himself. “The thing to me that is most troubling is that other people may try to do this now,” said David Hyche, a former ATF agent. Investigators are probing how Jabbar acquired the knowledge to build such devices, including whether he received guidance from terrorist groups or online sources.

The New Orleans community has rallied to support the victims’ families, with donations being collected through the Greater New Orleans Foundation. The Saints and Pelicans organizations also paid tribute to Tenedorio, a valued member of their video production team, in a heartfelt statement.

As the city mourns, questions remain about how Jabbar, acting alone, managed to carry out such a sophisticated attack. Authorities continue to investigate his motives and connections, while experts warn of the potential for similar incidents in the future.