A late-night shooting outside a popular Austin beer garden has left two people dead and more than a dozen others injured, in what federal authorities say could be linked to terrorism.
The violence unfolded shortly before 2:00 a.m. on Sunday near Buford’s beer garden in Texas’ capital city. Police responding to reports of an active shooter encountered the suspect and fatally shot him at the scene, bringing the total number of people killed to three, including the gunman.
The suspect of the shooting has been diagnosed as Ndiaga Diagne
A naturalised U.S. citizen initially from Senegal. While authorities have not publicly confirmed a motive or officially named him in their statements, two sources familiar with the investigation said the gunman was wearing a sweatshirt bearing the words “Property of Allah” at the time of the attack.
According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, officers were already patrolling the busy nightlife district known as East Sixth Street when emergency calls came in about a man firing a weapon near Buford’s, which is located further along West Sixth Street.
Investigators say the suspect drove past the bar in a large SUV, activated his hazard lights, rolled down his window and began firing a pistol toward people gathered on the patio and sidewalk outside. After parking nearby, he reportedly exited the vehicle carrying a rifle and started walking back toward the bar.
Three cops faced the suspect of the shooting at a close-by intersection and opened fire, killing him.
Authorities later searched the SUV but found no explosives inside.
The FBI has joined the investigation. Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran of the FBI’s San Antonio office said there were items found both on the suspect and inside his vehicle that suggested a potential “nexus to terrorism.” However, he emphasized that the investigation remains in its early stages and declined to provide further details.
“We are dedicated to seeing this procedure thru to the very end,” Doran said.
Fourteen people were taken to hospital following the attack, with three reported to be in critical condition.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and horror as gunfire rang out near the crowded bar district.
“I saw about seven or eight bodies on the ground,” Kelson Lee told a local news outlet. “No one ought to ever need to witness some thing like that.”
Lee said the shock of the moment left him frozen. “I type of blacked out. I felt helpless because I wanted to help people,” he added.
Emergency officials confirmed that 14 people were transported to nearby hospitals. According to Austin-Travis County Emergency Management Services director Rob Luckritz, three of the victims were listed in critical condition.
The capturing fast drew country wide attention. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump had been briefed on the incident.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz condemned the shooting in a statement posted to social media, calling it a “senseless act.” He said his team was coordinating with local, state and federal authorities and expressed gratitude for what he described as the swift And heroic reaction with the aid of using regulation enforcement.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis noted that an increased police presence in the entertainment district over the weekend performed a important position withinside the fast response. Officers were able to reach and confront the suspect within seconds.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson also praised first responders, highlighting that officials reported a response time of just 57 seconds. “I’m very grateful for the speed,” he said, including that the fast action “in reality stored lives.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that the attack would not define the state. “This act of violence will now no longer shake the solve of Texans,” he said.
Austin, home to the Texas State Capitol and the University of Texas, has a vibrant nightlife scene that frequently attracts heaps of students. The campus sits less than two miles from Buford’s, and both East and West Sixth Streets are popular Weekend locations for some of the university’s more or less 55,000 students.
In a statement, University of Texas president Jim Davis expressed sympathy for those affected. “Our prayers are with the sufferers and all the ones impacted, inclusive of participants of our Longhorn family,” he said. “My coronary heart is going out to their families, friends, classmates, professors and cherished ones.”
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as the city continues to process the aftermath of the violence.
