The recent tragic incident in Austin, Texas has left the nation in shock. The gunman, later identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, opened fire outside a bar, killing two people and injuring 14 others. Surprisingly, Diagne was not on the authorities’ radar prior to the attack, according to federal and local investigators.
Both the FBI and local police are actively investigating the motive behind the mass shooting, which took place early Sunday. The FBI is considering the possibility of the incident being an act of terrorism, especially following recent events involving the U.S. and Israel launching an attack on Iran.
Law enforcement officials revealed that Diagne was wearing attire with an Iranian flag design and the words “Property of Allah” during the attack. The investigation includes analyzing extensive video footage and interviewing over 150 witnesses.
Police Chief Lisa Davis mentioned that the weapons used in the attack were legally purchased by Diagne several years ago in San Antonio. The victims, identified as Savitha Shan and Ryder Harrington, were tragically caught in the crossfire.
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It was revealed that Harrington was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Texas Tech University, as confirmed by the fraternity’s Instagram post. Diagne, originally from Senegal, entered the U.S. in 2000 on a tourist visa and later became a lawful permanent resident.
The tragic incident unfolded outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, a popular spot along Sixth Street near the University of Texas at Austin. Diagne drove past the bar, returned, and began firing at innocent bystanders.
The chaos and fear of the shooting left students and patrons scrambling for safety. The police intervened swiftly, ultimately stopping the shooter.
University of Texas at Austin President Jim Davis expressed his condolences, mentioning that some of those impacted were part of their university community. The FBI continues to investigate the incident for any potential links to terrorism.
Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer, Eric Tucker, and Rebecca Santana in Washington contributed to this report.
