Understanding the Pathway to Violence: Insights from the New Orleans Attack

Jameson Ritter, CTM, CPP, PSP, PCI

 

The deadly truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans during the early hours of New Year’s Day claimed 14 lives and injured dozens more, illuminating how personal grievances, extremist views, and deliberate planning can culminate in an act of targeted violence. The suspect, identified by the FBI as 42-year-old Army veteran and Texas native, "SDJ", left a trail of public messages and court records that illustrate the process many refer to as the “Pathway to Violence.”

 

SDJ's Pathway to Violence

 

Grievance Formation

As part of a broader pattern of discontent, SDJ posted several videos on social media expressing his support for ISIS. FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia told reporters that SDJ “posted several videos to an online platform proclaiming his support for ISIS,” shortly before the attack. CBS News quotes New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick describing the rampage as “very intentional behavior,” saying, “He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”

Court records and interviews with his family reveal SDJ was dealing with major stressors in his personal life, including multiple divorces and financial struggles. According to CBS News, his monthly expenses—including child support payments—exceeded his income. He carried thousands of dollars in credit card debt, and his property management business was failing. These situational pressures often serve as triggers in radicalization trajectories, allowing ideological grievance to take root.

 

Ideation

Authorities say SDJ’s extremist beliefs had solidified by late 2024. CNN reports he “discussed planning to kill his family” in social media videos, stating he changed his plan because he wanted the focus to be on “the war between the believers and the disbelievers.” Both ABC News and CBS News note that he referenced joining ISIS “before this summer,” presenting a clear ideological motive. BBC coverage calls the attack “inspired by the Islamic State (IS) group,” showing how SDJ’s personal resentment overlapped with global extremist narratives.

 

Research and Planning

SDJ’s systematic reconnaissance highlights a key phase in the Pathway to Violence. NBC News and BBC articles mention his repeated visits to New Orleans in October and November 2024, during which he wore Meta smart glasses to record the scene. CBS News adds that he bypassed security barriers around Bourbon Street, possibly informed by these prior observations. The suspect’s choice of date—New Year’s Day, when crowds were dense—further underscores the level of planning and intent.

 

Preparation

An integral step before an attack involves gathering the weapons, equipment, and knowledge needed to inflict maximum harm. CBS News reports that SDJ rented a Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck on December 30, 2024, through the carsharing app Turo, and drove from Houston to New Orleans on December 31. According to ABC News, he also constructed two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) hidden in coolers on Bourbon Street. Per CNN’s coverage, SDJ intended to detonate these bombs remotely via a transmitter, but the devices failed to ignite because he lacked a working detonator. Investigators found “precursor chemicals” and other bomb-making materials at the Houston home he rented, as well as at a New Orleans Airbnb he briefly occupied.

 

Breach and Attack

The final stages of the Pathway to Violence played out at around 3:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day. SDJ “drove around the barriers, bypassing patrol cars and law enforcement, and onto the sidewalk,” said Superintendent Kirkpatrick to CBS News. Wearing a ballistic vest and helmet, SDJ plowed the truck into crowds of revelers, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. FBI officials say SDJ then exited the vehicle with an AR-15 style weapon, exchanging gunfire with police. SDJ was fatally shot at the scene.

 

Stressors and Inhibitors

Multiple sources, including the FBI’s study on pre-attack behaviors, note that attackers often display an accumulation of stressors with few or no effective inhibitors. In SDJ’s case:

 

Relationship Problems

CBS News indicates SDJ was married three times, with contentious divorce proceedings and repeated legal disputes over finances and child custody. In one case, a temporary restraining order was issued.

 

Financial Strain 

CBS News refers to his pay stubs and court documents showing he earned around 125,000 dollars annually at Deloitte yet was saddled with credit card debt and costly monthly obligations. He admitted in filings that his real estate venture was losing money.

 

Military Experience

He served in the Army and Army Reserve from 2007 to 2020, including a deployment to Afghanistan. While no single factor can be blamed, some veterans struggle with reintegration challenges, which may magnify other stressors if there is insufficient social support.

 

Ideological Radicalization 

A consistent element in the suspect’s communications was his declared allegiance to ISIS. ABC News quotes District Attorney Jason Williams saying investigators are trying to determine “whether he had been radicalized prior to the travel [to Egypt] or if the travel marked the start of his radicalization.” CNN similarly notes his repeated statements online expressing a desire to wage violent jihad.

 

Opportunities for Intervention
 

Recognizing Early Warnings

SDJ’s explicit statements in social media videos—“He posted several videos … proclaiming his support for ISIS,” per the FBI—should have been taken seriously.

 

Reporting Suspicious Behavior

CNN and BBC both reference SDJ’s repeated scouting trips and use of Meta smart glasses. Observers—be they family members, coworkers, or bystanders—who notice substantial changes in behavior or suspicious activities can play a crucial role in alerting authorities. When in doubt, sharing concerns with law enforcement or local tip lines can help prevent escalation.

 

Bystander Awareness and Community Vigilance

Friends, family members, and coworkers can also be attuned to sudden ideological shifts, threats of violence, or unexplained purchases. Encouraging a culture where individuals “say something” if they “see something” is vital. People often worry about overreacting, but timely reporting of unusual activities may offer an essential opportunity for intervention.

Providing Support Services: SDJ’s divorces, financial strains, and extremist rhetoric paint a picture of an individual in crisis. Resources such as counseling, domestic violence support, and community outreach can, in some instances, keep a person from moving further down the path to violence.

 

Conclusion

By tracing SDJ’s journey along the Pathway to Violence—grievance formation, ideation, research, preparation, breach, and attack—we gain insights into the combination of personal hardship and extremist indoctrination that culminated in one of the deadliest New Year’s Day incidents in recent history. The tragedy on Bourbon Street highlights how multiple warning signs—ranging from explicit social media posts to suspicious travel—can appear well before violence erupts. Cultivating bystander awareness, encouraging community members to report concerns, and reinforcing any available sources of support are all critical steps in preventing potential attackers from transforming grievances into catastrophic actions.

 

Sources (Referenced or Discussed):

  • CNN: https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/new-orleans-truck-attack-suspect-01-02-25-hnk/index.html
  • ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/US/new-orleans-attack-latest-fbi-dhs-warn-copycat/story?id=117290889
  • NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-orleans-attacker-meta-glasses-prior-visits-rcna186293
  • CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bourbon-street-new-orleans-attack-suspect-what-to-know/
  • BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c205ek63433o
  • FBI Pre-Attack Behaviors of Active Shooters (2000-2013): https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/pre-attack-behaviors-of-active-shooters-in-us-2000-2013.pdf/view