Suspect identified in Austin, Texas, bar shooting that left 2 dead, 14 injured
Suspect Identified in Austin, Texas, Bar Shooting That Left 2 Dead, 14 Injured
Early Sunday, a man suspected of killing two and wounding 14 others opened fire on revelers outside a bar in Austin, Texas. Law enforcement sources confirmed his history of mental health issues, though no specific diagnosis was provided. The suspect, Ndiaga Diagne, 53, was a Senegalese national who became a U.S. citizen through naturalization. He resided in Pflugerville at the time of the incident, according to four officials.
About the Suspect
Diagne was observed wearing a sweatshirt with the phrase “Property of Allah” and a shirt featuring an Iranian flag design during the attack. Police officers quickly intervened, shooting him dead shortly after the violence erupted. Authorities are still assessing whether the attack had a terrorist motive, though no evidence of state involvement has been found yet.
“There were indicators that on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism,” said Alex Doran, a special agent with the San Antonio FBI field office. “Again, it’s still too early to make a determination on that.”
Diagne had entered the U.S. on a B-2 tourist visa on March 13, 2000. He gained lawful permanent residency in 2006 through marriage to a U.S. citizen and completed his naturalization process in 2013. He was arrested in 2022 for a vehicle collision, though details of that case were not specified.
Eyewitness Accounts
Nathan Comeaux, a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, was at Buford’s, a popular downtown beer garden, to celebrate two friends’ 21st birthdays. He left for pizza shortly before 2 a.m. and returned to the patio when gunfire erupted. Initially, no one panicked, but the situation escalated when police arrived and confronted the shooter.
“People realized it was serious and started running,” Comeaux described. He witnessed officers engaging the attacker and heard around eight shots as the exchange continued.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis revealed that the gunman may have circled the bar multiple times in an SUV before beginning the attack. “At one point, he put his flashers on, pulled down his window, and used a pistol to fire through the car windows, striking patrons on the patio and in front of the bar,” Davis stated. After parking, he exited with a rifle and continued shooting pedestrians along West Sixth Street before being fatally shot by officers.
Impact and Statements
Three of the injured were transported to a local hospital in critical condition, as reported by Robert Luckritz, chief of the county’s emergency medical services. UT Austin President Jim Davis expressed condolences, calling it “a difficult day for our city and the University” in a statement. He emphasized support for victims and their loved ones.
“Our prayers are with the victims and all those impacted, including members of our Longhorn family,” Davis said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott echoed similar sentiments, stating that the state was praying for the victims’ recovery and mourning the lives lost. “This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans,” he added. Abbott’s comments likely referenced the U.S.-Israeli military campaigns against Iran, which resulted in the death of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
