Congressman Andrew Garbarino (RN.Y.) talks about the New Orleans attack and the Senate hearings on Trump's Cabinet nominations.
The trucks involved in the New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks were both rental cars rented through the car-sharing platform Turo.
The FBI said the late suspect Shamsuddin Jabbar rented a white pickup truck and drove down New Orleans' famous Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning as people were out celebrating the New Year. 15 people died.
FBI identifies suspect in terrorist act after Bourbon Street attack
In another incident on Wednesday, a Tesla Cybertruck loaded with gasoline cans and fireworks exploded near the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, local police said. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said the driver “rented a vehicle in Colorado, arrived in Las Vegas at approximately 7:30 a.m., and drove along the Las Vegas Strip until arriving at the hotel where the incident occurred.” There was one death.
A Tesla Cybertruck burst into flames outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on Wednesday, killing the driver and injuring seven others. (EyePress News/Shutterstock/Shutterstock)
“I am heartbroken by the violence that occurred in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and my prayers are with the victims and their families,” Touro told Fox News in a statement. “We are actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies investigating both incidents. We do not believe that either of the tenants involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks pose a safety threat. I don't think he had a criminal history.”
The company says it will continue to do so.[s] Thanks to our world-class reliability and safety technology and a team that includes experienced former law enforcement professionals, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of risk management. ”
The FBI said Thursday morning that there is “no definitive connection” between the two incidents at this time.
A police officer patrols the French Quarter in the early morning hours of January 2, 2025, after being attacked by a man driving a truck on Bourbon Street in New Orleans the day before. (Andrew Caballero Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
How the app works
Turo users book rental cars on the platform through a multi-step process.
According to the car-sharing app's website, they “enter where and when you need a car, filter to find the right car for you, and read reviews from previous renters.”
Turo has more than 1,600 “unique makes and models,” according to its website. They are provided by “hosts,” whom Tullo described as “everyday entrepreneurs who share cars in their communities.”
The company says Turo users can pick up their cars from pick-up locations or have them delivered.
The Turo Inc. logo is displayed on a smartphone in a matchmaking photo taken on Thursday, June 11, 2020, in Brooklyn, New York. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“Some hosts meet with guests in person, while others choose a remote handoff,” Turo's site explains.
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Requirements to rent a car through the app include having a Turo account, having a valid driver's license and being approved to drive with Turo, it said. The website says you will also be asked for your home address and that age requirements vary by country.
About 3.5 million guests rented vehicles in the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, Turo said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The app is available in the United States, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and parts of Canada.
The Cybertruck that exploded in Las Vegas was rented in Colorado, LVMPD said. Meanwhile, the rental pickup truck used in the New Orleans attack originated in Texas, according to the FBI.
Who is Turo's CEO?
Touro is led by CEO Andre Haddad.
He became CEO of the peer-to-peer car sharing company in 2011, according to his company biography.
Previously, Haddad co-founded an online marketplace called iBazar, which eBay acquired in 2001. According to Turo's biography, he worked at eBay for about 10 years after the acquisition.
Turo was created in 2009 by Shelby Clark.
Possibility of IPO in the future
Mr. Turo has focused on the possibility of an initial public offering in recent years.
The company has filed a registration statement with the SEC for a proposed IPO in 2022. It was announced five months after a registration statement was drafted in strict confidence.
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Touro said in its November amended tax return that it generated approximately $879.68 million in net revenue and more than $14.71 million in net income through 2023. It said it recorded net revenue of $722.05 million and net income of $19.4 million in the first nine months of 2024. Net income increased, according to the filing.
Margaret Carman contributed to this report.
