When a person is accused of committing a horrific crime, whether it’s a school shooting or a terrorist attack, it’s far from rare for people who have known the alleged perpetrator to come forward and share their impressions of him.
With Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man who the government has named as the suspect in the New Orleans car attack early in the morning of New Year’s Day, that has already started to happen.
A sketch has emerged of Jabbar as a 42-year-old U.S. citizen, born in Texas, who spent about a decade in the Army, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Twice-divorced, Jabbar had reportedly been acting “erratically” in the months before he carried out the attack, in which he was himself killed. It’s not clear exactly when Jabbar, who had an ISIS flag on his car during the attack, took a turn towards Islamic radicalism.
Now, a man who says he commanded Jabbar’s unit in the Army has come forward, sharing his impressions of the man suspected of mass murder.
As I process the devastating events that unfolded in New Orleans, I am in utter disbelief. Shamsud-Din Jabbar served under my Troop Command during our deployment to Afghanistan. He worked quietly and professionally in the S1 shop and as a mail clerk, ensuring the little things…
— Rich Groen (@Rich_Groen) January 2, 2025
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Rich Groen’s X bio describes him as “Former SCO of 1-7 CAV (GARRYOWEN 6) and 3/3 SFAB (XYSTON 6). Cavalryman. Tanker. Advisor.” On Wednesday night, he took to that platform to share his impressions of the man he once commanded.
NEW tonight: In videos posted to Facebook, Shamsud-Din Jabbar pledged allegiance to ISIS before his New Orleans attack. pic.twitter.com/sIrxkVOyoR
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) January 2, 2025
“Shamsud-Din Jabbar served under my Troop Command during our deployment to Afghanistan,” Groen wrote of Jabbar. “He worked quietly and professionally in the S1 shop and as a mail clerk, ensuring the little things that kept us all connected to home were done with care and precision. He was a great Soldier, someone who showed discipline and dedication.”
He went on to express shock that the Jabbar he knew had been capable of such terrible acts.
“To think that the same individual who once embodied quiet professionalism could harbor so much hate, leading to such unspeakable atrocities, is incomprehensible and heartbreaking. This transformation is a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked anger, isolation, and hate.”
He went on to advise his readers to “please watch out for one another. Be there for your brothers and sisters in arms, your friends, and even those who seem distant or troubled.”
Photo courtesy of WCVB/YouTube screenshot.
