New Orleans police release bodycam footage of New Year's shootout, says officers acted within policy

The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) on Friday released bodycam footage of the fatal shootout with the New Years' Day driver, who drove a truck into a crowd of partiers on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and wounding dozens more.

Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who investigators believe was inspired by ISIS, has been identified as the perpetrator of the attack. 

The 10-second bodycam clip showed three officers aiming their weapons at the open driver’s side door of a white pickup truck, and an officer yelling for Jabbar to "put your hands up," according to NBC News. The shooting then erupts, and a slowed down video of the shootout and a still image of it appeared to show a muzzle flash from Jabbar's weapon.

Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said during a news conference on Friday that the police officers, identified as Sgt. Nigel Daggs and Officers Christian Beyer and Jacobie Jordan, were "national heroes" who acted within law and department policy.

“It’s clear the officers were well within policy,” Kirkpatrick said. “So we have no concerns about that.”

Kirkpatrick also said that a fourth officer, who did not fire his weapon, and Jordan, who has been with the department for a year and nine months, both sustained injuries to their thighs and have since been released from the hospital. 

New Orleans police have defended their response to the terror attack and security at the event prior to the incident. But the department also hired William Bratton, a top officer in New York, Los Angeles, and Boston, to counsel the city on its security measures ahead of two other high-profile events later this year.

“This is moving in the right direction in terms of improving public safety measures in the city of New Orleans as we are preparing to host national events such as the Super Bowl and even Mardi Gras," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said on Thursday.

The Super Bowl will take place next month at the city's Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.