In the wake of the horrific terrorist attack that took place on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on January 1, the two New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers injured in the incident are on the road to recovery.
The officers were instrumental in neutralizing the ISIS-inspired attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who claimed 15 lives, including his own, in the deadly assault.
According to Fox News, the officers were responding to an unrelated call in the early hours of New Year's Day when they were confronted with the horrifying scene. Jabbar had driven an electric Ford F-150 pickup truck into a crowd of revelers, killing 14 civilians before opening fire on the police. The officers, whose identities remain undisclosed, reacted swiftly to the rapidly unfolding events. "Within seconds, they reacted and began to do what they were trained to do and what the situation required that they do," said NOPD attorney Eric Hessler, a former officer himself.
The officers' immediate task was to ascertain whether the vehicle crash was intentional. Upon realizing the likelihood of a deliberate act, they drew their weapons to confront the active threat. "They handled it correctly. They handled it the way they were trained. And they're handling the aftermath, as difficult as it is, in the way that they were trained," Hessler affirmed.
Street camera footage from the morning of the attack reveals a group of officers near Bourbon Street rushing towards the danger upon receiving the call about a suspicious vehicle incident. Hessler praised the officers' actions as "heroic" and "well thought-out." He noted that the officers, some of whom had never worked together before and were from different jurisdictions, acted as a team under extremely challenging circumstances.
FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia confirmed that authorities believe Jabbar acted alone. In the aftermath of the attack, officials discovered two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in different locations in the French Quarter, concealed in coolers.
Prior to his deadly rampage, Jabbar had posted several videos on Facebook expressing his support for the Islamic State (ISIS), as revealed by the FBI at a news conference. The victims of the attack, identified as of Thursday, include Martin "Tiger" Bech, 27; Drew Dauphin, 26; Nikyra Dedeaux, 18; Nicole Perez, 28; Reggie Hunter, 37; Hubert Gauthreaux, 21; Kareem Bilal Badawi. 18; Matthew Tenedorio, 25; Billy DiMaio, 25; and Terrence Kennedy, 63.
As the city of New Orleans grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event, the bravery and quick response of the NOPD officers stand as a testament to their commitment to protect and serve. Their actions, while they could not prevent the loss of life, undoubtedly prevented further casualties. Their recovery, both physical and emotional, is a crucial part of the city's healing process.
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