Two people died and 14 others suffered injuries in a shooting outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin, Texas, early Sunday morning, March 1. The FBI classifies the incident as a terrorism-related crime, occurring one day after U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran. Authorities identified the gunman as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a Senegalese national and naturalized U.S. citizen from Pflugerville. Police shot and killed Diagne at the scene.
Incident Details
The attack unfolded around 2 a.m. local time in the bustling East Sixth Street bar district, popular with university students. Witnesses report Diagne drove a large SUV past the bar, activated hazard lights, lowered his window, and fired at patrons on the patio and sidewalk. He then parked nearby, exited with a rifle, and approached the bar again. Three officers confronted him at an intersection and neutralized the threat.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed the sequence of events. Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Director Rob Luckritz noted three of the injured victims remained in critical condition.
Eyewitness Accounts
Kelson Lee, 25, nearby during the gunfire, entered the bar seeking a friend. “I saw seven or eight bodies on the floor,” he said. “No one should ever have to witness that. I froze—I just felt helpless, even though I wanted to help.”
University of Texas senior Nathan Comeax celebrated friends’ 21st birthdays at the bar. He stepped out for pizza across the street when shots erupted. Initial calm turned to chaos as police engaged the gunman. Comeax heard about eight shots exchanged. “If he had made it back to Buford’s, it would’ve been much worse, with hundreds of people holed up in the bar,” he said.
Suspect Background
Diagne entered the U.S. on March 13, 2000, via a B-2 tourist visa. He gained permanent residency after marrying a U.S. citizen in June 2006 and received citizenship on April 5, 2013. Records show arrests, including a 2022 Texas vehicle collision charge. Law enforcement sources indicate a history of mental health episodes in Austin.
At the scene, Diagne wore a sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah” and an undershirt with an Iranian flag design. Investigators found a Quran in his vehicle. The FBI notes indicators suggesting a terrorism nexus, though early findings point to a lone actor without confirmed state affiliations.
Official Responses
Texas Governor Greg Abbott mourned the victims and referenced potential links to recent U.S.-Israel actions against Iran. “Texas mourns with the families and loved ones of those who were horrifically killed… We pray for the swift recovery of those who were injured.”
FBI Special Agent Alex Doran from the San Antonio field office stated, “There were indicators connected to the suspect and his vehicle that point to a potential terrorism nexus. However, it remains too early to make a definitive determination.”
U.S. President Donald Trump received briefing on the shooting, per White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Senator Ted Cruz condemned the violence: “What happened early this morning in Austin was a senseless act of violence… I’m grateful for the heroic and quick response from law enforcement.”
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the 57-second response time: “I’m very thankful for the speed. Their response definitely saved lives.”
Videos online capture chaos: gunfire amid screams, victims under string lights with overturned drinks, and approaching sirens. The investigation continues amid Texas laws allowing private firearm sales without background checks and concealed carry without permits.
