BEAUMONT, Texas — Shamsud-Din Jabbar was known to his high school friends as “Sham,” a reserved and diligent student with a promising future. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Army, where he distinguished himself as a dedicated and hardworking soldier. His superior officer, Rich Groen, praised his discipline and professionalism during their time in Afghanistan, where Jabbar worked as a human resources and mail clerk.
However, as Jabbar’s life progressed, he faced mounting personal and financial struggles. After a third divorce and deepening debt, he became increasingly vulnerable. Eventually, he became drawn to the extremist group ISIS. On New Year’s Eve, Jabbar, 42, drove a rented truck from Houston to New Orleans, where he posted videos online expressing his support for ISIS. Once at Bourbon Street, he planted two improvised explosive devices and drove into the crowd, killing 14 people before being killed by police in a shootout. Authorities have noted that Jabbar's personal difficulties align with the profile of individuals susceptible to extremist ideologies.
The attack has shocked his friends and family, who remember him as kind and unassuming. His half-brother, Abdur-Rahim Jabbar IV, expressed disbelief at the transformation, saying there were no signs of radicalization. Investigators are working to understand how Jabbar was radicalized, though they have not yet uncovered details about his path.
Jabbar grew up in Beaumont, Texas, and was known for his calm and polite demeanor. After high school, he initially joined the Navy in 2004 but left after a month and later enlisted in the Army. His time in the military was marked by professionalism and a strong work ethic. After his service, he attended Georgia State University, where he studied computer information systems. He briefly worked in real estate before joining Deloitte in 2021.
Despite his stable job, Jabbar faced financial distress and the ongoing fallout from his third divorce. He owed substantial debts and was struggling with mounting bills. His professional life, however, didn’t appear to indicate the severe personal turmoil he was experiencing.
Jabbar’s increasing devotion to his faith may have marked a shift in his life. He had previously expressed frustration over global issues like the conflict in Gaza but had not indicated extremist beliefs. His online posts centered around Islam and were often peaceful and reflective, not hinting at radicalization. Still, by 2024, Jabbar began sharing messages with a more intense religious tone, including a post on SoundCloud criticizing music for leading people astray.
His friends and neighbors recall him as quiet, private, and devout in his faith, but there were no clear indications of extremist sympathies until the tragic attack. A neighbor, who saw him leave on New Year’s Eve, described him as polite and said he prayed at home rather than attending the mosque.
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