Austin Bar Shooting Kills Three as FBI Probes Terror Links

Swift Police Response Saves Lives in Downtown Attack

Three people are dead and 14 others were injured following a mass shooting at Buford's on West 6th Street early Sunday, with the suspect fatally shot by police officers at the scene. The gunman was identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, originally from Senegal. Medics were on scene within 57 seconds of getting the call at 1:59 a.m. , a response time that officials credit with preventing additional casualties.

A large SUV drove around the block several times prior to the shooting, with the suspected gunman then rolling down his windows and shooting out of his car with a pistol, striking patrons at the bar. He then switched to a rifle after parking and exiting his vehicle and continued shooting. Officers who had been working the nearby East 6th Street entertainment corridor rapidly responded to the scene as bars were closing for the night, immediately transitioned over to West 6th Street and were faced with the individual with a gun. Three officers returned fire, killing the suspect.

All critical patients were taken away from the shooting scene within 24 minutes and all remaining patients were off the scene in 47 minutes. The coordinated response between Austin Police and emergency medical services likely prevented a higher death toll in one of the city's busiest nightlife districts.

FBI Investigates Potential Terrorism Connection

The FBI said there are "indicators" of terrorism related to the shooting. The gunman was wearing a sweatshirt that said "Property of Allah" during the attack, and officials executed a search warrant at the gunman's home on Sunday and found an Iranian flag and pictures of Iranian leaders. Sources told CBS News that the Quran was found in the gunman's vehicle.

Multiple U.S. officials said he was a naturalized American citizen born in Senegal. He first entered the U.S in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa and became a lawful permanent resident six years later after marrying a U.S. citizen. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2013. Two law enforcement sources told CBS News that investigators say the shooter had had prior mental health episodes in Austin. They are looking at whether the shooter was influenced by extremist ideology and if there is a nexus to international terrorism, but cautioned that the individual had prior mental health issues.

The shooting took place a day after the United States and Israel launched a massive military operation on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. The joint terrorism task force is handling the investigation, which is comprised of the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Austin police and state police, and they're looking into the suspect's background and possibly internet posts.

Witnesses Describe Chaos and Heroism

Kelson Lee, 25, was about a block away from Buford's on West Sixth Street when he said he heard around six gunshots. "I see about seven to eight bodies on the floor. No one should ever have to see that… Makes me really sad. Those are people who are brothers and sisters, who have mothers and fathers." Videos he shared show medics, police officers and bystanders rushing to help victims, some administering CPR.

Another witness said he arrived at Buford's around midnight to meet a co-worker on what he described as a packed night downtown. "It was really crowded at one point, like literally shoulder to shoulder." The popular beer garden was at capacity when the attack began, with patrons celebrating on what should have been a typical Saturday night in Austin's entertainment district.

Security Measures Intensified Statewide

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement Sunday morning that he has directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to increase patrols along Sixth Street during weekends. Abbott said that before the shooting, he directed the DPS and the Texas National Guard to intensify patrols and surveillance across the state in a precautionary measure in response to the joint U.S.-Israel military operation in Iran.

"This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans. To anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure, understand this clearly: Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state."

The attack marks another violent incident in Austin's Sixth Street corridor, raising questions about security protocols in entertainment districts nationwide. There have been at least two other high-profile shootings in Austin's Sixth Street entertainment district within the past five years, including one in the summer of 2021 that left 14 people wounded. As federal investigators continue piecing together the suspect's motives and potential connections