Nickname and unexpected military awards of Shamsud-Din Jabbar exposed following the New Orleans terrorist incident

New Orleans terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar was a ‘smart student’ and ‘very likeable guy’ during his school years, his former classmate has revealed.

Jabbar, aged 42, caused the deaths of 14 individuals and left numerous others injured when he drove a truck into a crowd of people celebrating New Year’s Day in New Orleans. This horrific act was considered a terrorist attack influenced by ISIS. Following his destructive actions, Jabbar was fatally shot by law enforcement officers in a gun battle.

Surprisingly, Jabbar’s association with the terrorist organization has shocked those who were acquainted with him in the past. A former classmate expressed disbelief, mentioning that Jabbar was not someone who typically sought out trouble.

According to Kendrick Watson Smith Sr., who attended school with Jabbar and his twin sister in Texas, Jabbar, also known as ‘Sham’ among his peers, was intelligent, calm-mannered, and appeared to be well-liked due to his friendly and easy-going nature.

‘As far as I can remember, I don’t recall him being a troublemaker or anything like that,’ Smith, 42, said. ‘That just wasn’t in his character. He was bookish and quiet, but he had a group of friends.’

He also recalled how he was surprised when Jabbar went into the military, claiming it seemed he had been on track to go off to college and become a lawyer or doctor.

Jabbar served in the Army from March 2007 to July 2020, deploying to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010. He transferred to the army reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of staff sergeant.

Jabbar earned nearly two dozens awards while serving in the military, including a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Task & Purpose reported.

New Orleans terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar, pictured ahead of Wednesday’s fatal attack, was a ‘smart student’ and ‘very likeable guy’ during his school years, his former classmate revealed

Jabbar (pictured) served in the Army from March 2007 to July 2020, deploying to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010. He earned nearly two dozens awards while in the military, including a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Smith attended Central High School in Beaumont, Texas with Jabbar and his sister. They were all graduates of the Class of 2001, he told DailyMail.com.

Although Smith wasn’t a close friend with Jabbar, he said they were friendly. 

‘He was a very likable guy, and people gravitated to him because he had a cool personality. He wasn’t in the popular crowd, but he wasn’t a loner,’ Smith recalled. 

‘He was very smart and was in all the honors classes, so he was no dummy. He also was very mild-mannered in the way he carried himself. 

Smith said it’s ‘unbelievable’ that his former classmate was connected to ISIS.

‘It does shock me because I went to school with this guy, walked the halls with him, yet never saw him ever become violent. I mean, you never know what triggers people and what makes people do things.’

Smith also claimed that he heard that his former classmate had a hard time after leaving the military.

‘He probably saw things while he was in the military,’ he said of Jabbar. ‘Sometimes it gets really hard and when you are also dealing with financial situations and debt. It shouldn’t make anyone go into violent extremes, but life is hard. 

Jabbar, 42, killed 14 people and injured dozens by ramming a truck into a crowd of New Year’s Day revelers in New Orleans in a terror attack inspired by ISIS. He was fatally shot in a firefight with police after the rampage 

Emergency services attend the scene after a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans’ Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025

The horrific Bourbon Street attack was the deadliest ISIS-inspired assault on US soil in years. Pictured are victims laying on the street

‘I have friends that went into the military and sometimes they don’t come back the same way when they left, and they look at life and death differently than I do.’ 

Smith said he couldn’t remember Jabbar’s fraternal twin sister’s name, but said the the pair also had an older brother and were close to the mother.

‘They were a tight-knit family. Every family has problems, but you wouldn’t want to see their sister, brother or mother see something about their loved one like this.’

He added: ‘My heart also goes out to all the victims who lost their lives and their families. I don’t know why he did this and what he was into to make him do this. Never in a million years would I think he would be a guy who could do something like this.’

Jabbar joined the Army in March 2007, serving on active duty in human resources and information technology until January 2015. He also deployed to Afghanistan February 2009 to January 2010.

He transferred to the Army reserve in 2015 and left in 2020, ending his service with the rank of staff sergeant.

Jabbar joined the Army in March 2007, serving on active duty in human resources and information technology until January 2015. He also deployed to Afghanistan February 2009 to January 2010. He transferred to the Army reserve in 2015 and left in 2020, ending his service with the rank of staff sergeant

Jabbar was a seemingly dedicated soldier, receiving 23 accolades over the course of his military career, according to Task & Purpose.

His awards included three Army Commendation Medals – which are awarded to soldiers who distinguish themselves through heroism or meritorious service – four Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

He was also awarded: the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star; two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons; the Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon; a NATO Medal; two Meritorious Unit Commendations; the Parachutist Badge; and the Driver and Mechanic Badge.

Before serving in the Army, Jabbar enlisted in the Navy. He joined the service’s delayed entry program in August 2004, but was discharged one month later. He did not attend boot camp.