NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The attacker inspired by the extremist group Islamic State who killed 14 people in New Orleans on New Year’s Day fired at the police from his vehicle before the officers fatally shot him, footage from the police body camera released on Friday shows.
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"They killed the terrorist... They are national heroes," said Anne Kirkpatrick, the superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, about the officers in a press conference.
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Shamsud-Din Jabbar evaded a police checkpoint at the entrance of Bourbon Street, the most famous street in the city, and rammed his white F-150 truck into the people walking down the street at around 3:15 a.m. on New Year's Day. He killed 14 people and left dozens injured.
After the vehicle crashed, officer Christian Beyer is seen next to the open driver's door with his gun raised, as shown in the body camera footage of officer Luis Robles approaching. Officer Jacobie Jordan is also seen next to the driver's door. He also had his gun drawn, officials said.
"Beyer identifies himself and asks Jabbar to exit the vehicle," said Sergeant Mike Guasco of the Public Integrity Bureau Investigation Team. The team is responsible for reviewing all police shootings.
Jabbar then fires from behind an airbag at close range and the flash from the barrel is visible. Robles and at least two unidentified officers turn, take a few steps, and throw themselves to the ground as shots ring out.
Beyer and Jordan both fired their weapons, said Guasco. A third officer not visible in the images, Sergeant Nigel Daggs, was standing next to the co-pilot door and also fired.
"The officers are trained for shooting scenarios like that - they are highly trained, and that's what they saw. These are split-second decisions," Kirkpatrick explained.
The superintendent emphasized that the officers followed protocol and had been allowed to return to full service.
The three officers who shot Jabbar were Daggs, a 21-year veteran of the department, and Beyer and Jordan, each of whom has been on the force for nearly two years, police officials said. Jordan and the nine-year veteran officer Joseph Rodrigue, who did not fire his weapon, were injured in the thighs; in addition, Rodrigue fractured his shoulder. Kirkpatrick declined to comment on whether any officer or bystander was hit by friendly fire.
The officers involved have provided statements to the investigators about "their understanding" of the facts, said Kirkpatrick, refusing to give more details because it is part of an FBI investigation. She indicated that the officers would not be available for comments.
He also refused to answer questions about the security measures implemented or to say 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, alleging that they did not implement security measures that could have prevented the attack.
"Kirkpatrick stated, 'I will answer any questions through the investigations and then the results of that will be made public.' He indicated that the police will eventually release more body camera footage."