A deadly New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, where a Houston man drove into a crowd of holiday revelers, has left the city reeling and raising urgent questions about security. With the Chevron Marathon set to bring over 30,000 people to downtown Houston in just over 2 weeks, officials are under pressure to ensure the safety of participants and spectators alike.
On New Year’s Day, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a Houston resident, drove a vehicle into a crowd celebrating the holiday, killing 14 people and injuring 35 others, including two police officers. The incident ended in a shootout that left Jabbar dead.
The day after the attack, FBI agents in Houston searched Jabbar’s home and trailer, uncovering bomb-making supplies. The FBI later assured the public there was no ongoing threat in northwest Harris County. The investigation into the attack remains active.
At the time of the tragedy, the Waltrip High School marching band from Houston was in New Orleans to perform at the Sugar Bowl. The band’s Facebook page quickly reassured the public, stating, “All of our students, chaperones, and staff are safe and sound in New Orleans. We are following the safety procedures outlined by the city and the Sugar Bowl staff.”
Glenn Cowan, a former candidate for Harris County Sheriff, weighed in on social media, emphasizing that he was the only candidate in his race to focus on countering potential terrorism in the county. Criticizing current leadership, he declared, “This needs to be Ed Gonzalez’s last term as sheriff,” and suggested that such an attack was inevitable under the current administration.
With the Chevron Marathon approaching on January 18, many Houstonians are understandably concerned about security measures for the event.
Retired Houston Police Department Captain Greg Fremin stressed the importance of increased precautions, given the expected attendance of over 30,000 people.
Discussing potential car-free zones, he noted, “[Y]ou might see some more additional road closures coming into this area downtown. So, I would definitely look for something like that happening, and that’s going to basically secure this area from vehicle traffic. It’ll be open for pedestrians, but it’ll be shut down for vehicles.”
