The tragic terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans in the early hours of 2025 continues to hold the national news cycle hostage to the details of exactly what happened at the beginning of this New Year.
At a mid-morning press conference, which was much more organized than the circus-like press conference held yesterday afternoon, the city, the state, the FBI, and ATF all shared the latest information on the horrific event at the beginning of the New Year and there were some important updates.
Yesterday, officials warned that the terrorist, whose name will not be mentioned in accordance with my policy of never mentioning the names of suspected terrorists or mass shooters since one of their goals may be to get attention even after death, insisted that he did not act alone and that accomplices were still out there.
Following the press conference, the first question from the media was about the claim that the terrorist did not act alone to a different tone today that suggested he was a lone wolf. The question was answered without the distinct acknowledgement that the information had changed. It is not believed that the terrorist did act alone as a lone wolf.
Also, even early today officials vaguely linked the Bourbon Street attack with that Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Today, the FBI said there is no apparent link between the two incidents, but both situations are still being aggressively investigated. But there are a couple of connections that are noteworthy. Both men served at the same military base and both men rented their vehicles from the same company.
When asked directly about why certain things were not done to better secure the French Quarter, Gov. Jeff Landry evaded the question. I believe we will learn that more could have been done to prevent what happened on Bourbon Street in the early hours of 2025. But Gov. Landry was right when he said that “nothing is 100%.” But could and should the bollards in the French Quarter have been operative and could the entrance to Bourbon Street have been more fortified? These are the tough questions that deserve answers.
The FBI reported that the terrorist joined ISIS and believed he was part of a war between the believers and the disbelievers. He rented the pick-up truck in Houston and drove it to New Orleans. During his trip he professed allegiance to ISIS before summer. The terrorist also apparently placed IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) in two locations about the city that were fully functional, but were disarmed successfully.
Contrary to misinformation that might have been politically-motivated, the terrorist was not an illegal immigrant - he was a U.S.-born citizen who served in the military. It is also not uncommon for terrorists or mass shooters to have served in the military and the Department of Defense has been aware of this and has studied any possible connection between military service and inspiring violence. When you consider the vast number of people who serve in the military and the very few terrorists and mass shooters that manifest their rage, it could be a simple coincidence that a percentage of terrorists and mass shooters were in the military. It is true that the military does train individuals to shoot a gun and make weapons, but I don’t think the military is responsible for shaping the mentality of a terrorist or a mass shooter.
We cannot get so caught up in the compelling details of an act of terrorism as if it is the plot of a movie or TV show that we forget about the 14 people who were killed and the 30 others who were injured. The pictures of the victims show many young people who came to New Orleans to celebrate New Year’s Eve, something I have done every year, except this year when I decided to spend New Year’s Eve in Hollywood. I could have been there and I have received texts from friends around the country wondering am I okay.
Those who were killed by this senseless act of terrorism were here in New Orleans to party and celebrate the beginning of a New Year. Their families could not have known that their New Year would be marred by the most horrific tragedy imaginable. And those lives were lost because of one individual making a statement about what he thought was right.
The details of the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street will forever define the beginning of 2025, especially for the city of New Orleans, but also for America as a nation. The image of New Orleans being an ideal place to party and celebrate or hold a convention will be challenged for some time to come, but we will overcome as we have done so many times before.
The city of New Orleans has work to do to convince the country and the world that it is safe and whatever lacked in security on New Year’s Eve will be corrected. I hope the city was not so focused on hosting the upcoming Super Bowl that there were security measures not taken for the New Year’s Eve and Sugar Bowl crowds. Rather than deflect and defend, I hope there is accountability and admission to what might have been different.
But going back to Gov. Landry’s statement - “nothing is 100%’ - the city of New Orleans needs a tougher image when it comes to security. Terrorists are less likely to hit New York City than other cities because New York City seemed better prepared to stop attacks. We can be a fun-loving city that is tough and secure.
As I walked along Venice Beach, CA at sunset one afternoon on my recent trip, as the sun was setting a vendor on the street shouted out: “Attention people! Enjoy the sunset because it might be your last.”
I thought that was a bit weird, but it is true. We all should enjoy every moment of life because the attack on Bourbon Street accentuates the randomness of life and none of those who died celebrating the New Year thought that would happen to them.
I trust that New Orleans is strong and we will rise from this tragedy and be better and safer. God Bless our city and those who were killed and injured and their families.