Federal authorities are investigating whether a deadly mass shooting in downtown Austin, Texas, early Sunday morning was an act of terrorism after three people were killed and 14 others injured in a burst of gunfire along the city’s busy Sixth Street entertainment district.
The violence erupted just before 2 a.m. outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden on West Sixth Street, according to the Austin Police Department. Police said the suspect drove a large SUV around the block multiple times before stopping near the crowded bar.
Investigators identified the gunman as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal who lived in Pflugerville, Texas. Law enforcement sources told Fox News that Diagne entered the United States in 2000 on a tourist visa, later obtained permanent residency through marriage to an American citizen, and became a naturalized citizen in 2013. Authorities also noted he had previously been arrested in 2022 in connection with a vehicle accident.
According to officials, Diagne initially opened fire from inside his vehicle, shooting through the windows with a pistol and striking people gathered on the patio and outside the bar. He then drove farther down Sixth Street, parked near Wood Street, exited the SUV armed with a rifle, and continued firing at pedestrians. Police officers who were already stationed nearby for weekend patrol responded within roughly a minute and fatally shot the suspect at an intersection.
At a press conference Sunday, Alex Dorn, acting special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation San Antonio Field Office, said investigators are examining evidence that could suggest a terrorism link. “It’s still too early to determine an exact motive,” Dorn said, but added that items recovered from the suspect and his vehicle point to a “potential nexus to terrorism.” The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is assisting in the investigation.
Federal sources said the suspect was wearing clothing referencing “Allah” and carried items displaying an Iranian flag. Investigators are executing at least one search warrant in Pflugerville, focusing on the suspect’s home, digital devices, and online activity to determine whether he was radicalized or had contact with extremist groups.
Jason Pack, a retired FBI supervisory special agent, said early indications suggest the suspect may have acted alone. Authorities are exploring whether he was inspired by extremist ideology rather than directed by an organized group, and they are also reviewing his mental health history.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting. Meanwhile, Texas Sen. John Cornyn called for stricter immigration vetting in response to the attack.
The incident has renewed concerns about safety along Austin’s Sixth Street corridor, which has experienced repeated episodes of violence in recent years. Local business owners say weekend crowds frequently overwhelm the area.
Emergency crews from Austin-Travis County EMS arrived within minutes and began treating victims at the scene. Officials have established a Victim Services Unit hotline for families seeking information as the investigation continues.