Crime
No definitive link found between New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks, FBI says
The FBI has announced that no definitive connection has been established between the recent attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas, though investigations remain ongoing.
Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia of the FBI Counterterrorism Division addressed the matter during a press conference on Thursday. “
As you know, there’s also an ongoing FBI investigation in Las Vegas. We are following all potential leads and not ruling anything out. However, at this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas,” Raia stated. He emphasized that it is still early in the investigation, and findings may evolve as new evidence emerges.
The Las Vegas incident involved a Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside a Trump Hotel on New Year’s Day.
The vehicle, rented by a U.S. Special Forces soldier assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group, detonated with a combination of fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel in its bed. The driver, who activated the device, was killed in the blast, and seven bystanders were injured.
Law enforcement officials are investigating whether the explosion constitutes an act of terrorism. The high-profile nature of the Tesla vehicle and its location near a hotel bearing Donald Trump’s name has heightened scrutiny.
In New Orleans, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, has been identified as the suspect in the deadly truck attack on Bourbon Street.
The FBI now believes Jabbar acted alone. Deputy Assistant Director Raia stated, “We do not assess at this point that anyone else is involved in this attack except for Shamsud-Din Jabbar.”
This position marks a shift from earlier statements by Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan, who had suggested that Jabbar might not have acted alone.
The FBI confirmed Thursday that 14 people were killed in the terror attack in New Orleans.
The attacker is also dead. The New Orleans coroner previously announced 15 deaths but did not provide any identifying information about the decedents.
Investigators initially explored the possibility that others were responsible for placing improvised explosive devices at the scene, but those leads have not yielded evidence of accomplices.
Raia reiterated during a news conference that the New Orleans attack was an act of terrorism. “This was premeditated and an evil act,” he declared. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry added that over 1,000 law enforcement agents have been analyzing surveillance footage, conducting interviews, and tracking down leads.
To support investigative efforts, Gov. Landry issued an emergency declaration aimed at streamlining collaboration between state, local, and federal authorities.
While the FBI has not uncovered evidence linking the two attacks, investigations remain active. Officials continue to examine potential ties between Jabbar and extremist ideologies, as well as the broader implications of these incidents on national security.
Law enforcement agencies urge the public to report any relevant information as efforts to piece together the motives and connections behind these tragic events continue.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.