Houston authorities are currently conducting an investigation in a specific area on the northside of the city. This investigation is believed to be connected to the tragic attack that occurred in New Orleans on Wednesday.
Federal agents have informed Eyewitness News that the FBI Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are currently engaged in law enforcement operations near the intersection of Hugh Road and Crescent Peak Drive in north Houston. ABC13 has corroborated this information and has confirmed that the operations are centered around a property where the suspect involved in the deadly attack had been residing.
The area was surrounded by officers around 3 p.m. Just before 5 p.m., a man emerged from the residence, raising his hands in surrender. It is unclear at this time what connection, if any, he has to the ongoing investigation.
“We have secured a perimeter in that area and are asking people to avoid the area. FBI Houston personnel and specialized teams will be on-site for several hours. This activity is related to this morning’s New Orleans attack, but due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further information can be provided,” the FBI told 13 Investigates.
According to officials, a Houston man reportedly drove a Ford pickup truck through a crowd on Bourbon Street at a high rate of speed early Wednesday, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 15 people. Additionally, over two dozen individuals were injured in this horrific incident.
The authorities have identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S.-born citizen and U.S. Army veteran hailing from Houston, Texas. A spokesperson from the consulting firm Deloitte has confirmed that Jabbar has been working for the company as a “Senior Solution Specialist” since 2021. Additionally, a reliable source has verified that he was still employed as of Wednesday morning.
The electric truck, which had Texas plates, was rented through the Turo app, a platform for sharing vehicles, from a man in Houston. According to sources, the truck was spotted on Tuesday in north Harris County near Treaschwig Road and Aldine Westfield Road at around 10:15 a.m. It was seen again at 11:10 a.m.
According to sources, the truck was spotted in Baytown, Texas, at 12:15 p.m., traveling east on I-10 towards New Orleans, as reported by ABC13.
In an interview with ABC News, the owner of the truck confirmed that he had rented the vehicle to someone through Turo. He stated that he is currently in discussions with the FBI and chose not to provide any additional comments.
Multiple law enforcement sources have informed ABC News that the explosive devices discovered in and around Bourbon Street were determined to be viable.
According to a report by ABC News, hotels in the area are currently being evacuated due to safety concerns. In addition, there have been multiple controlled detonations conducted as a precautionary measure.
Authorities have confirmed that two police officers were shot and injured in the incident.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell characterized the horrifying incident as a “terrorist attack,” while Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that the FBI is currently investigating it as an act of terror. This act of violence follows a recent deadly vehicle ramming attack in Germany, raising concerns among law enforcement about similar incidents and lone actor attacks during winter holiday events.
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick stated that Jabar had made an attempt to cause harm to as many individuals as possible. A black flag was seen to be connected to the truck, although its meaning was not immediately clear.
At the conclusion of the chaotic episode, characterized by city officials as a “mass casualty incident,” a minimum of 35 individuals were left injured, according to reports from New Orleans police and city authorities. The majority of those affected were believed to be residents of the area.
“He was hellbent on creating the carnage that he did,” Kirkpatrick said at a news conference early Wednesday.
Despite being fully staffed for New Year’s Eve and the Sugar Bowl, the New Orleans Police Department reported that the attack still took place. The force had a 100% staffing level, with an additional 300 officers from partner agencies on duty.
According to a senior federal law enforcement source, local authorities reached out to the FBI for help on Wednesday. They requested assistance in setting up a command center, with the FBI taking the lead in the investigation.
“A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning,” Gov. Jeff Landry said, adding that his family was praying for the victims and first responders.
Now, authorities are actively conducting a thorough background check on the firearm while diligently scouring surveillance cameras for crucial information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts and activities.