AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Authorities have identified the shooter responsible for the tragic incident at a bar in Texas early Sunday, which resulted in two fatalities and left 14 others injured, as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, according to a law enforcement source and another individual familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press.
According to several individuals familiar with the investigation, Diagne hails from Senegal. One source informed the AP that he arrived in the U.S. in 2006 and later became a naturalized citizen. The individuals requested anonymity as they were not permitted to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation.
Authorities in Austin fatally shot the assailant, who utilized both a handgun and a rifle during the incident, according to police reports. The FBI indicated that the shooting is being treated as a possible act of terrorism.
According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the suspect circled the bar multiple times before halting and firing a handgun from his SUV at individuals seated on a patio and those in front of the establishment.
The shooter subsequently parked his vehicle, exited with a firearm, and started firing at individuals in the vicinity before officers who arrived at the scene returned fire, according to Davis.
In the last five years, Austin’s Sixth Street entertainment district has experienced at least two notable shootings, one of which occurred in the summer of 2021, injuring 14 individuals. While the shooting this weekend does not qualify as a mass killing, there have been five such incidents reported this year.
The FBI is looking into whether the shooting that occurred early Sunday qualifies as an act of terrorism due to certain “indicators” discovered on the shooter and within his vehicle, according to Alex Doran, the acting head of the FBI’s San Antonio division.
“It’s premature to reach a conclusion on that matter,” Doran remarked.
The incident occurred outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden shortly before 2 a.m. on Sixth Street, a popular nightlife area known for its bars and music venues, located just a few miles from the University of Texas.
The president of the school stated on social media that some of those affected were “part of our Longhorn community.”
“We extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims and everyone affected,” stated university President Jim Davis.
According to Davis, the entertainment district experiences a significant police presence on weekends, allowing officers to engage the shooter within a minute of the initial emergency call.
The Mayor of Austin, Kirk Watson, commended the swift actions taken by law enforcement and emergency responders.
“They certainly preserved lives,” he remarked.
One of the individuals affected was discovered on the roadway nestled between two stationary vehicles. Within the multi-level bar, tables were upended and beverages were abandoned by patrons who had hastily exited.
Early Sunday morning, a shooting at a nightclub and concert venue in Cincinnati left nine individuals injured, according to Ohio police.
All nine individuals sustained gunshot injuries, yet none were deemed life-threatening, according to Adam Hennie, the interim police chief of the city.
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Diaz filed his report from Richmond, Virginia, while Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. ___ Diaz serves as a corps member with The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service initiative that assigns journalists to local news organizations to cover overlooked topics.
Jack Myer, Olivia Diaz, Alanna Durkin Richer, Eric Tucker, and John Seewer from The Associated Press
