Truck Used in Deadly Bourbon Street Attack Was Rented in Houston

Source: MATTHEW HINTON / Getty

The Ford F-150 Lightning truck driven by the suspect, identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, in the fatal New Year’s Day attack that killed 10 and injured dozens more has a shocking connection to Houston, according to a new report by ABC13 News.

The vehicle, bearing Texas license plates, was rented via the vehicle-sharing app Turo from a man in Houston. The truck’s owner confirmed with ABC13 that he rented the vehicle to an individual through the app.

The owner said he is currently speaking to the FBI and declined any further comments.

Source: MATTHEW HINTON / Getty

Speaking on the incident, New Orleans police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick made it clear that they were not dealing with a DUI-type situation.

“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” Kirkpatrick said in a news conference Wednesday morning (Jan. 1), noting that the driver’s actions were “very intentional.”

According to Ms. Kirkpatrick, around 3:15 a.m. the man plowed his truck into crowds at before crashing and firing shots at authorities. Two police officers were struck by gunfire. Later, items believed to be improvised explosive devices were discovered inside the truck and investigators were trying to determine whether the devices were viable.

Earlier today, word came that the Sugar Bowl would be postponed to Thursday following the attack.

Officials with the Sugar Bowl issued the following statement:

“The Sugar Bowl Committee is devastated by the terrible events from early this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are in ongoing discussions with authorities on the local, state, and federal levels and will communicate further details as they become available,” Jeff Hundley, Chief Executive Officer.

Truck Used in Deadly Bourbon Street Attack Was Rented in Houston was originally published on theboxhouston.com