By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Police investigate the scene outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin after a gunman opened fire along the city’s busy Sixth Street entertainment district. (AP Photo/Aaron E. Martinez)
A late-night shooting in Austin’s bustling Sixth Street entertainment district left two people dead and 14 others wounded early Sunday, prompting a federal terrorism investigation.
Authorities say the gunman, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, opened fire just before 2 a.m. outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden. According to a law enforcement source cited by The Associated Press, the suspect wore clothing displaying the words “Property of Allah” and an Iranian flag emblem. The attack occurred one day after the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes on Iran, though investigators say it is too early to determine the motive.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the suspect drove past the bar multiple times before stopping and firing from inside his SUV at patrons gathered outside. He later exited the vehicle armed with a rifle and continued shooting along the crowded nightlife corridor, which is popular with University of Texas students.
Officers confronted the suspect within a minute of the first emergency call and fatally shot him, officials said. Three of the injured remained in critical condition Sunday morning.
The FBI is examining evidence found on the suspect and in his vehicle as it explores whether the attack was an act of terrorism. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Diagne was originally from Senegal and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2013.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pledged a strong response to any threats tied to international conflicts, while University of Texas leaders expressed support for students affected by the violence.