Austin Bar Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 14 Injured
A mass shooting in downtown Austin, Texas, early Sunday left three people dead, including the suspected gunman, and 14 others wounded, prompting a federal investigation into a possible terrorism connection.
Police said the first emergency calls came from Buford’s bar on West Sixth Street at 1.59 a.m. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis described the violence as a “tragic, tragic incident” during an early morning press conference.
According to Davis, the suspect drove a large sport utility vehicle around the block several times before firing a pistol from inside the vehicle. He then exited with a rifle and continued shooting into the crowded entertainment district, an area popular with university students.
Officers responded within 57 seconds of the initial 911 call, officials said. When they arrived, they encountered a male gunman pointing a weapon at them. Officers returned fire and killed the suspect at the scene.
Two bar patrons were pronounced dead. Fourteen additional victims were transported to hospitals with gunshot wounds. Three were reported to be in critical condition.
Suspect Identified, FBI Joins Investigation
The Associated Press reported that the suspect was identified as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a U.S. citizen who first came to the United States from Senegal in 2000, married an American citizen six years later and became naturalized in 2013. He had previously lived in New York before relocating to Texas.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is assisting in the investigation. Alex Doran, an FBI official, told reporters that it was too early to determine the shooter’s motive but said evidence recovered from the suspect and his vehicle indicated a “potential nexus to terrorism.”
Law enforcement sources told Reuters that investigators are also examining the suspect’s history of mental health issues.
Fox News reported it had obtained a photograph of the suspect carrying a rifle while wearing a light-colored sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah.” The Associated Press cited a law enforcement official who said the gunman wore that sweatshirt along with another featuring an Iranian flag design.
A SWAT team was deployed Sunday afternoon to a home in Pflugerville, Texas, believed to be connected to the suspect, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Political Reaction and Heightened Security
The shooting occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions following U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement warning “anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure.”
Abbott said Texas would respond “with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state.” He ordered increased patrols and surveillance across Texas by the National Guard and state law enforcement.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson thanked first responders for their rapid action, noting that police officers and paramedics are routinely stationed in the downtown entertainment district on weekends.
Austin Emergency Medical Services Chief Robert Luckritz said that embedded personnel allowed for a swift response that likely prevented additional casualties.
Eyewitness Accounts Describe Chaos
Videos circulating on social media showed multiple victims lying on the floor inside the bar as paramedics worked to treat them. In one video, a woman administering CPR could be heard shouting, “Please help me – I need help!”
Jeremiah Carbajal, a concierge at a nearby residential building, told the Austin American-Statesman: “I heard screaming and yelling and crying.”
The attack was not the only instance of gun violence in the United States early Sunday. In Cincinnati, at least nine people were injured in a shooting at a music venue around 1 a.m. All victims in that incident suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and no suspect information was immediately released.
Renewed Gun Law Debate
The Austin shooting quickly reignited debate over gun laws and immigration policy.
Chip Roy, a Republican congressman whose district includes south Austin, wrote on X: “Stop talking about how great ‘legal’ immigration is.” He added: “It’s killing us. Literally.”
Data analyzed by the Cato Institute indicates that foreign-born individuals are no more likely to commit mass shootings than native-born Americans.
Texas Democrats instead pointed to the state’s gun laws. Greg Casar, a Democrat representing parts of Austin in Congress, called for action to “end America’s gun violence epidemic.” He said: “Americans should be able to have fun at a bar without it turning into an unspeakable nightmare like this one.”
Everytown for Gun Safety ranks Texas 32nd out of 50 states for gun law strength. The advocacy group notes that five of the worst mass shootings in the past decade have occurred in Texas and criticizes state lawmakers for failing to pass what it describes as foundational gun safety measures.
Texas law allows private firearm sales without background checks, permits concealed carry without a license and does not impose magazine capacity restrictions on semi-automatic rifles. The state also filed a lawsuit last year temporarily blocking a Biden-era federal regulation intended to close the so-called gun show loophole.
The Gun Violence Archive has recorded 56 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, defining a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more victims are shot or killed, not including the attacker.
Community in Shock
Austin, the state capital, has a population of just over 1 million. Its downtown district is known for live music venues and a busy weekend nightlife scene.
As investigators continue examining evidence and searching for motive, the city faces renewed questions about public safety, gun access and the potential influence of global conflicts on local violence.
For now, officials say the investigation remains active, with federal and local authorities working together to determine whether terrorism played a role in one of the deadliest shootings in Austin’s recent history.
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