Freelance Reporter Interviewed Suspect Responsible For New Orleans Attack In 2015.

Security personnel gather at the scene on Bourbon Street after a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans' Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A freelance reporter recently disclosed details of an interview he conducted with the suspect believed to be responsible for the New Orleans attack. The interview took place in 2015 when the journalist was working on a story for his college newspaper at Georgia State University.

The suspect, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, had served in the US Army from 2007 to 2020, both in active duty and reserve roles. During the interview, Jabbar expressed his challenges in transitioning from military to civilian life, particularly in navigating the complexities of Veteran Affairs benefits.