Jabbar Gibson
Encyclopedia
Jabbar Gibson is a man who, on September 1, 2005, drove an abandoned New Orleans school bus after Hurricane Katrina
from the flooded area to Houston, Texas
, to rescue victims of the flooded city
. He was 20 years old at the time.
He gained widespread media attention
when he commandeered the bus in New Orleans and picked up around 70 passengers, driving them 13 hours to Houston, stopping for fuel three times. When asked how he paid for fuel, Jabbar replied, "we passed a hat around until we had enough money". More notoriety followed when it was reported he might be in trouble for appropriating the vehicle illegally, as driving a commercial vehicle weighing over 26000 pounds (11,793.4 kg) requires a class A, B, or C Louisiana license.
Gibson's story was reported by Salatheia Bryant and Cynthia Leonor Garza, reporters for the Houston Chronicle
newspaper.
Gibson has an extensive criminal history, including numerous arrests, and a prior conviction for possession of a stolen automobile. He had two pending cases before Hurricane Katrina for possession of cocaine
and aggravated assault with a firearm with discharge. He was released from jail on the assault charge nine days before the storm hit on a personal recognizance bond issued by Judge Charles Elloie.
Gibson has picked up more charges since Hurricane Katrina. On January 9, 2006, Gibson was arrested and subsequently indicted
on federal charges after being found in possession of cocaine
, heroin, and a revolver
by New Orleans narcotics detectives and federal agents.
He is currently incarcerated in Orleans Parish Prison awaiting trial on his pending cases.
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
from the flooded area to Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, to rescue victims of the flooded city
Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans
The effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans have been long-lasting. As the center of Katrina passed South-east of New Orleans on August 29, 2005, winds downtown were in the Category 3 range with frequent intense gusts and tidal surge. Hurricane force winds were experienced throughout the...
. He was 20 years old at the time.
He gained widespread media attention
15 minutes of fame
15 minutes of fame is short-lived, often ephemeral, media publicity or celebrity of an individual or phenomenon. The expression was coined by Andy Warhol, who said in 1968 that "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." The phenomenon is often used in reference to...
when he commandeered the bus in New Orleans and picked up around 70 passengers, driving them 13 hours to Houston, stopping for fuel three times. When asked how he paid for fuel, Jabbar replied, "we passed a hat around until we had enough money". More notoriety followed when it was reported he might be in trouble for appropriating the vehicle illegally, as driving a commercial vehicle weighing over 26000 pounds (11,793.4 kg) requires a class A, B, or C Louisiana license.
Gibson's story was reported by Salatheia Bryant and Cynthia Leonor Garza, reporters for the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
newspaper.
Gibson has an extensive criminal history, including numerous arrests, and a prior conviction for possession of a stolen automobile. He had two pending cases before Hurricane Katrina for possession of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and aggravated assault with a firearm with discharge. He was released from jail on the assault charge nine days before the storm hit on a personal recognizance bond issued by Judge Charles Elloie.
Gibson has picked up more charges since Hurricane Katrina. On January 9, 2006, Gibson was arrested and subsequently indicted
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
on federal charges after being found in possession of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, heroin, and a revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
by New Orleans narcotics detectives and federal agents.
He is currently incarcerated in Orleans Parish Prison awaiting trial on his pending cases.