New Orleans, Louisiana – A horrific truck attack on New Year’s Day has left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured on the city’s famous Bourbon Street. Now, authorities are investigating an unexpected twist: The suspect in that attack, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, may have ties to Matthew Livelsberger, the driver of a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel just hours before. Both men are former U.S. Army veterans, and the FBI is working to determine whether the two incidents were coordinated or otherwise connected.
A Deadly New Year’s Morning in New Orleans
In the early hours of January 1, revelers on Bourbon Street were celebrating the dawn of a new year when a pickup truck suddenly burst through police barricades and plowed into the crowd. Witnesses described a scene of chaos and horror: People screamed, dove out of the way, and scrambled to help those who were hit. Law enforcement quickly descended on the area. They managed to apprehend the driver, later identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, but not before the vehicle’s rampage left 15 people dead and more than 30 injured.
Suspect’s Background
- Age: 42
- Name: Shamsud-Din Jabbar
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- Military Service: Army veteran, having reportedly served on a U.S. military base (details undisclosed by authorities so far).
Possible Motive
While motives are still under investigation, President Joe Biden stated that Jabbar was “inspired by ISIS” and “had a desire to kill.” Biden condemned the assault, remarking that “the spirit of our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated.”
ISIS Connection
Unconfirmed reports suggest that an ISIS flag may have been spotted inside Jabbar’s truck after the attack. The FBI and other federal agencies are analyzing the flag and any other materials found in the truck for potential extremist ideology clues.
Simultaneous Tragedy in Las Vegas
Just hours before the New Orleans event, another frightening incident unfolded in Las Vegas, Nevada. A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside one of Donald Trump’s hotels near The Strip. Early indications from local authorities say the vehicle was deliberately rigged to detonate, but the manner and precise motives remain uncertain. Witnesses reported a small group gathering around the truck in the minutes leading up to the blast, followed by a loud explosion that rocked nearby buildings.
- Suspect’s Identity:
The Tesla driver was identified as 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, a Colorado Springs resident and also a former U.S. Army veteran. - Loss of Life?
Authorities have not yet confirmed the total casualties linked to the Cybertruck explosion. However, initial reports suggested that the blast claimed the life of Livelsberger himself and possibly one other individual—details that remain to be confirmed by Clark County officials. - Motive Unknown
Similar to the New Orleans case, the FBI is scrutinizing whether Livelsberger had extremist ties or personal grievances. Some intelligence suggests that these two men—Livelsberger and Jabbar—had previously served at the same base, prompting investigators to hypothesize a shared radicalization or personal vendetta.
FBI Leads the Investigation
Federal law enforcement, with assistance from local police agencies in both New Orleans and Las Vegas, has taken the lead in piecing together a timeline and potential motives for these attacks. The possibility of coordination remains speculative, but the FBI acknowledges that the synergy of the attacks occurring on the same day with both suspects holding Army backgrounds is too significant to ignore.
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Key Points the FBI is Exploring:
- Shared Military Service:
Sources told Denver7 that both men served at the same military base at some point in their careers. Investigators hope to discover whether they were stationed together simultaneously, shared a unit, or perhaps interacted in a way that fueled extremist views. - Online Radicalization:
Agents are combing through both men’s digital footprints—social media accounts, messaging apps, and email communications—to see if they had contact or were part of any extremist forums or terror-linked online groups. - Intermediaries and Accomplices:
The FBI also wants to know if Jabbar had helpers or if Livelsberger cooperated with additional suspects. President Biden’s statement that Jabbar might not have acted alone indicates the possibility of a larger network rather than two lone attackers.
Profiles of the Suspects
1. Shamsud-Din Jabbar (New Orleans)
- Age: 42
- Residence: Not confirmed, but believed to have ties in the southern U.S.
- Family: Reportedly father of three, with two daughters (ages 14 and 20) and one son (age undisclosed) from two different marriages.
- Court Documents: Texas records show multiple references to paternal responsibilities and two divorces.
- Recent Activity: According to President Biden, Jabbar was homeless or lived in unstable conditions at one point. He was an Army veteran, potentially harboring extremist sentiments, as indicated by ISIS references.
2. Matthew Livelsberger (Las Vegas)
- Age: 37
- Residence: Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Incident: Allegedly behind the wheel of a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on January 1.
- Military Tie: Also an Army veteran. Investigators believe he and Jabbar might have shared a station, though the details remain under wraps.
- Status: Believed to have died in the explosion, but local officials still finalizing identification.
Statements from Officials
President Joe Biden:
“We have reason to believe this truck attacker was inspired by ISIS. I know while this person committed a terrible assault on the city, the spirit of our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated. It always will shine forth.”
Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans:
“We mourn those lost this New Year’s. Bourbon Street was supposed to be a place of celebration and laughter, not horror. Our hearts break for the victims and their families.”
FBI Spokesperson:
“We are investigating potential links between Shamsud-Din Jabbar and the suspect in Las Vegas’ Cybertruck explosion, Mr. Matthew Livelsberger. Both are Army veterans, and we’re working with the Department of Defense to piece together their service records. No definitive conclusion has been reached, but we are taking this angle very seriously.”
In New Orleans, shock and sorrow prevail as locals and tourists grapple with an attack on a well-known party street. Bourbon Street, famous for Mardi Gras and year-round nightlife, now has a significant police presence. Restaurants and bars along the strip have erected memorials—flowers, candles, photos—for those lost or injured. While city leaders stress that the area remains open for business, many feel a somber mood in place of the usual carefree festivities.
In Las Vegas, the explosion outside Trump’s property caused a separate wave of apprehension. Clark County law enforcement has heightened security on The Strip, deploying additional patrols and bomb-sniffing dogs to reassure the public. Tourists continue to pour into Vegas for post-New Year’s getaways, but many are uneasy at the mention of an explosion just days earlier.
Investigation; latest updates
- Autopsies & Identities: Officials in Nevada are conducting autopsies on human remains found near the Tesla Cybertruck to confirm whether they belong to Livelsberger or another individual.
- Forensic Analysis: In both cities, forensic teams are examining vehicles, digital devices, and even clothing fragments. The main question remains: Were these coordinated acts of terror, or two separate individuals sharing a possibly similar extremist perspective?
- Possible Charges: While Jabbar faces potential charges of terrorism, murder, and using a vehicle as a weapon of mass destruction, Livelsberger’s case is complicated by the fact that he may be deceased. Still, investigators will pursue any accomplices or co-conspirators.
- Army Coordination: The Department of Defense is expected to release a statement providing limited service record details for both suspects. If the men served in the same unit, or if there’s any evidence of recruitment or radicalization during their time in the military, that could reshape the investigative focus.
Online forums and social media platforms have erupted with discussions, conspiracy theories, and sorrowful tributes to the victims. Many question how two Army veterans, presumably once aligned with the values of national service, could commit such violent acts. Others worry about increased security around public gatherings nationwide, especially with major events like the Super Bowl and other large festivals on the horizon.
Meanwhile, both cities remain vigilant. Residents in New Orleans speak of uniting and showing resilience, while Las Vegas officials vow to maintain the city’s spirit of celebration. Collectively, Americans are in mourning for those who lost their lives in these separate but potentially linked attacks, hoping clarity emerges in the coming weeks.
Within hours on New Year’s Day, two alarming incidents struck New Orleans and Las Vegas, claiming lives and raising urgent questions for federal investigators. In New Orleans, 42-year-old Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar allegedly drove a truck into a festive crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 15 people. Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump’s hotel, with 37-year-old ex-soldier Matthew Livelsberger allegedly behind the wheel. Reports suggest both men might have served at the same military base, prompting the FBI to scrutinize possible shared motives or extremist ties—particularly with an ISIS flag reportedly found in Jabbar’s vehicle.
President Biden, local authorities, and the FBI continue to gather facts, calling on the public to remain alert but not succumb to fear. While the exact nature of any connection between these two horrific acts remains under investigation, one thing is certain: The twin tragedies underscore that national security challenges persist, even on days meant for celebration and renewal.
