In a shocking turn of events, two separate incidents of vehicular violence have rocked the United States, leaving a trail of casualties and a nation grappling with fear.
The first incident occurred in New Orleans, where a vehicle plowed into a crowd celebrating New Year's Eve, resulting in the death of 15 people and injuring 30 others. The second incident unfolded in Las Vegas, where a Cybertruck exploded in front of the Trump International Hotel, killing one and injuring seven. Both vehicles were rented through the Turo app, a car rental marketplace that operates in the United States, Canada, Australia, and France.
According to Newsweek, the suspect in the New Orleans attack has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar. The attack took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning on Bourbon Street, one of the busiest areas of the city. The suspect was driving a Ford pickup truck, which officials believe was rented. The FBI reported finding an ISIS flag in the vehicle, along with weapons and a potential improvised explosive device (IED). Additional potential IEDs were discovered in the French Quarter.
Turo, the app implicated in both incidents, allows users to rent a variety of vehicles, from vans to exotic and vintage cars, from "trusted hosts." The app, which boasts a high rating on both Google Play and the App Store, claims to be the "world's largest car sharing marketplace." It offers users the opportunity to "skip the rental car counter" and choose from a wide selection of vehicles shared by local hosts.
In the aftermath of the New Orleans attack, the city is mourning the loss of its citizens. Among the victims were Reggie Hunter, Nikyra Dedeaux, and Tiger Bech. Melissa Dedeaux, mother of victim Nikyra, told Nola.com, "I just want to see my baby. She was the sweetest person. She would give you anything, anything." Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expressed his condolences on social media, urging people to avoid the area and pray for the victims and first responders.
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck at the Trump International Hotel valet area resulted in one death and seven injuries. The cause of the explosion is yet to be determined, but law enforcement is treating it as a possible act of terror. Eric Trump, the president-elect's second-eldest son and one of the executive vice presidents of the Trump Organization, addressed the incident on social media, expressing gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response.
President Joe Biden, in a statement, extended his condolences to the victims and their families, stating, "There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation's communities." He also mentioned that law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating any possible connection between the two incidents, though nothing has been reported at this time.
The FBI is leading the investigation into the New Orleans case, urging anyone with information to contact their New Orleans Bureau. The public is being asked to avoid certain areas of the city until further notice. In Las Vegas, the local police department is investigating the fire and explosion, with the FBI also involved in the investigation. Jeremy Schwartz, acting FBI Special Agent in Charge for the Las Vegas office, acknowledged at a news conference that there are many unanswered questions, stating, "We don't have a lot of answers."
As the nation reels from these acts of violence, the role of the Turo app in both incidents raises questions about the security measures in place for car rental services. While the investigations continue, the victims and their families are left to mourn and the nation is left to grapple with the reality of these horrific acts of terror.
Login