By: Bridget Sharkey
FBI officials say it is “too early to determine” if terrorism motivated a gunman who targeted patrons at a Texas bar this weekend. The shooter, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, was a naturalized citizen from Senegal. He killed two people and wounded 14 others, several of whom were University of Texas students.
The mass shooting took place just before 2 a.m. on Sunday morning at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, a venue on West 6th Street in downtown Austin. Authorities say that the gunman first circled the block several times before finally stopping his SUV and shooting at patrons who were on Buford’s outdoor patio.
After firing several shots, Diagne drove a short distance and parked near Wood Street. He then walked east on 6th Street, shooting at passersby with a pistol and a rifle before responding officers fatally shot him.
Investigators noted that Diagne was wearing a sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah” over a shirt emblazoned with the Iranian flag. Items in his SUV are being examined for possible links to terrorism.
Members of the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity, reviewed Diagne’s social media posts and found evidence of “pro-Iranian regime sentiments.”
At a press conference on Sunday, FBI Acting Special Agent Alex Doran acknowledged that investigators were considering whether the shooting was linked to terrorism.
“Obviously, it’s still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation,” he said. “But there were indicators that on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism.”
Following the shooting, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) took to X to express his outrage over the incident, writing:
“The horrific shooting in Austin—carried out by a suspected Islamist who came on a tourist VISA, and OVERSTAYED for years—is a heartbreaking reminder that failed policies have real consequences. This tragedy was preventable. Congress must pass Rep. Roy’s PAUSE Act and halt immigration until we can properly secure our borders and protect American communities. We can’t ignore the warning signs any longer.”
The impact on the University of Texas at Austin community became apparent in the hours following the tragedy. UT President Jim Davis shared a message with students and faculty, acknowledging that UT students were victims and thanking first responders for their life-saving efforts. Davis also thanked staff members and counselors for supporting affected students and their families.
On Feb. 28, just a day before the Austin shooting, the U.S. military began “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran, which culminated in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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