AUSTIN, Texas (Diya TV) — Investigators are working to determine whether a deadly mass shooting in downtown Austin was motivated by recent U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran. Authorities say it is too early to reach conclusions, but evidence found at the scene has raised concerns about a possible link to terrorism.
Two people were killed, and 14 others were wounded early Sunday in the busy Sixth Street entertainment district. Police officers shot and killed the suspect within a minute of the first 911 call, officials said.
The Austin Police Department identified the suspected gunman as Ndiaga Diagne, 53. Officials said he was a U.S. citizen originally from Senegal. He arrived in the United States in the early 2000s and became a naturalized citizen in 2013.
Authorities said Diagne had multiple addresses in Texas. It remains unclear when he moved to the Austin area.
Law enforcement officials said Diagne wore a hoodie that read “Property of Allah” and a shirt with an Iranian flag design. Investigators are reviewing whether those items connect to Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran.
Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI San Antonio Division, said agents found indicators on the suspect and inside his vehicle that suggest a potential nexus to terrorism. He cautioned that investigators have not determined a motive.
“It’s still too early in the process to determine an exact motivation,” Doran said.
The violence began shortly before 2 a.m. near Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden at West Sixth and Rio Grande streets. The area sits in the heart of downtown Austin and is known for its crowded bars and live music venues near the University of Texas at Austin.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the suspect drove a large SUV around the block several times. At one point, he turned on his flashers, rolled down his window, and began firing a pistol from inside the vehicle. Bullets struck patrons sitting on the patio and standing outside the bar.
Davis said the suspect then drove west on Sixth Street, parked the SUV, and stepped out with a rifle. He began shooting at people walking nearby.
Officers and emergency medical teams were already assigned to patrol the entertainment district. Davis said officers reached the suspect in less than a minute. Three officers confronted him near an intersection and returned fire. They fatally shot him as he walked toward them.
“There is no question in my mind that the quick response made a difference and saved lives,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.
Two victims died at the scene. Three of the wounded remain in critical condition, officials said. Paramedics transported 14 people to local hospitals for treatment.
Nathan Comeaux, a 22-year-old senior at the University of Texas, said the bar was packed with college students. He left about 10 minutes before the shooting to get food from a nearby truck.
He initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks. He then hid behind a bench before seeing officers run toward the scene. When he raised his phone to record, he heard more shots and saw officers shoot the gunman.
Comeaux said he knows at least one person who was injured. “The UT community has definitely been majorly affected by this,” he said.
University President Jim Davis said some victims included members of the campus community. “Our prayers are with the victims and all those impacted,” he said in a statement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that its Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined the investigation. Agents are searching the suspect’s home and reviewing his computers and phones. Authorities want to know whether he consumed extremist propaganda or left writings that explain his actions.
Investigators are also examining the suspect’s past mental health encounters in Texas.
The suspect carried both a pistol and an assault-style rifle during the attack, officials said. A bomb squad searched his vehicle after officers noticed suspicious items inside. Authorities later cleared the SUV and found no explosives.
The Austin attack adds to a growing number of mass shootings in the United States. The Gun Violence Archive reports at least 56 mass shootings nationwide this year. The group defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot, excluding the shooter.
