Austin shooting update

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Summary: Two unidentified victims were killed and 14 others injured when Ndiaga Diagne, 53, of Pflugerville, opened fire outside Buford’s bar in downtown Austin, Texas, on March 1. Police say Diagne arrived just before 2 a.m., shot into a crowd on West Sixth Street, then exchanged gunfire with officers, who killed him. The FBI and Austin police are reviewing possible extremism links, reports say.

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A gunman opened fire early Sunday morning outside a popular beer garden in downtown Austin, killing two patrons and wounding 14 others before police fatally shot him, authorities said.

The attack occurred just before 2 a.m. on March 1 at Buford's bar along West Sixth Street, a lively nightlife area filled with bars and crowds on weekends. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis reported that officers patrolling the nearby East Sixth Street district responded swiftly to 911 calls about an active shooter.

According to police, the suspect drove up in a large SUV, activated his hazard lights, lowered his window, and began shooting with a pistol toward people on the patio and sidewalk outside the bar. He then exited the vehicle armed with both a pistol and a rifle and continued firing. Three officers encountered him at a nearby intersection, exchanged gunfire, and killed him at the scene.

Austin police later identified the shooter as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a resident of Pflugerville, Texas. The Department of Homeland Security stated that Diagne, originally from Senegal, arrived in the United States on a tourist visa in 2000, became a lawful permanent resident in 2006 through marriage to a U.S. citizen, and gained naturalized citizenship in 2013.

Law enforcement sources told the Associated Press that Diagne wore a sweatshirt with the phrase "Property of Allah" and an undershirt featuring an Iranian flag design during the attack. Investigators recovered a Quran from his vehicle, and searches of related properties turned up additional items, including references to Iranian leaders.

The FBI, working with the Austin Police Department and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, is examining whether the incident has ties to terrorism. Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran of the FBI's San Antonio office noted "indicators" on Diagne and in his vehicle that prompted the review, though no motive has been confirmed. Some reports mentioned the timing followed recent U.S. military actions related to Iran, but officials stressed the investigation remains active.

The two victims who died have not been publicly named, as authorities continue notifying families. Among the 14 injured, at least three remained in critical condition at local hospitals. University of Texas President Jim Davis confirmed that some students were affected by the shooting.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed heightened patrols and surveillance across the state in response. Community support resources are available through the Austin Police Department's Victim Services Unit for those seeking information or assistance.

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