The attacker who killed 14 people in a truck rampage on New Year’s Day in New Orleans shot at police from inside his truck before officers fatally shot him, police bodycam footage released on Friday shows.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar had driven his white F-150 around a police car blockading the entrance of Bourbon Street, the city’s most famous thoroughfare, and ploughed into revellers about 3.15am on New Year’s Day.
The footage presented to news outlets by New Orleans Police shows Jabbar shooting from behind an airbag as several officers surround his truck after it crashed into a crowd of revellers on the city’s famous Bourbon Street.
Three officers discharged weapons, police officials said at a news conference.
Citing the ongoing investigation and pending litigation, they said they would not yet disclose how many shots Jabbar fired.
One of two officers standing next to the open door of Jabbar’s truck has his gun raised, the bodycam of a third approaching officer shows. A muzzle flash is seen from inside the truck and a succession of shots rings out.
Several officers run away and dive to the ground as Jabbar fires at them from close range.
The two officers next to the driver’s door both discharged their weapons, police said. A third officer in front of the truck and not visible in the video footage also discharged his weapon.
Jabbar is believed to have been inspired by the so-called Islamic State group.
“They killed the terrorist… They are national heroes,” New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said of the officers at a news conference.
“Officers are trained for shoot scenarios like that — they’re highly trained, and that’s what you saw. These are split-second decisions,” Ms Kirkpatrick said.
Citing the ongoing investigation and pending litigation, Ms Kirkpatrick said police will not yet disclose how many shots Jabbar fired. But she stressed that the officers had followed protocol and had been allowed to return to full duty.
She also refused to answer questions about the security measures in place or state how many officers were in the area at the time of the attack.
A group of victims sued the city and two of its contractors on Thursday, claiming they failed to implement security measures that could have prevented the attack.
“I will answer any and all questions through the investigations and then the results of that will be made public,” Ms Kirkpatrick said. She indicated that police will eventually release more bodycam footage.
“All officers are faced with ‘shoot, don’t shoot’. And this was clearly within the law and clearly, solidly within policy,” Ms Kirkpatrick said.
