In the early hours of Sunday, gunfire shattered the closing moments of a busy night on Sixth Street in Austin. Within minutes, two people were dead, 14 others were wounded, and federal agents were asking whether global tensions had spilled onto a Texas street.
Authorities are now investigating whether the suspect may have been influenced by recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Officials caution it is too early to draw firm conclusions.
What Happened on Sixth Street
The shooting unfolded in Austin’s downtown Market District, a dense corridor of bars and live music venues near the University of Texas campus.
Police first received reports of a man firing from a large SUV outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the suspect turned on his vehicle’s flashers, rolled down his window, and began shooting with a pistol at patrons seated on the patio and standing outside the bar.
“At one point, he put his flashers on, rolled down his window, and began using a pistol, shooting out of his car windows, striking patrons of the bar that were on the patio and that were in front of the bar,” Davis said.
The suspect then drove westbound on Sixth Street, parked, exited the vehicle with a rifle, and continued firing at pedestrians. Officers reached him in less than a minute.
“Our suspect was coming toward East Austin or East Sixth Street, officers were coming toward him, and at the intersection, he was shot and he was killed at this time,” Davis said.
Video from the scene shows officers running toward gunfire as people scrambled for cover.
The attack is among 56 mass shootings recorded in the United States so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit that tracks gun-related incidents nationwide.
Who Was the Suspect
Police identified the suspected gunman as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne.
According to the Austin Police Department, Diagne entered the United States on March 13, 2000, on a B-2 tourist visa. A Department of Homeland Security official told CNN he adjusted his status in June 2006 to lawful permanent resident through marriage to a US citizen and became a naturalized citizen on April 5, 2013.
Law enforcement officials said Diagne was originally from Senegal. After arriving in the US, he initially lived in New York before moving to Texas. Authorities said he had multiple addresses in the state.
In 2022, he was arrested in Texas on a misdemeanor charge of collision with vehicle damage, according to DHS.
Investigators are reviewing his criminal history and past mental health encounters in Texas.
Was Iran a Factor
Federal investigators are examining potential ideological motives.
The suspect was wearing a shirt with an Iranian flag design beneath a hoodie printed with the words “Property of Allah,” a law enforcement official told CNN.
“Obviously, it’s still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and then his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism,” said Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio Division, during a Sunday news conference.
Authorities searched a home connected to the suspect in Pflugerville, a suburb of Austin. According to CNN affiliate KEYE, investigators removed boxes of items and closely examined a vehicle in the driveway.
Officials told CNN they are likely analyzing computers and phones to determine whether the suspect consumed propaganda or left writings outlining his intent.
Victims and Emergency Response
Authorities have not released the identities or ages of the two people killed or the 14 injured. Three hospitalized victims remain in critical condition.
University of Texas at Austin President Jim Davis said in a statement that some of those affected include “members of our Longhorn family.”
“Our prayers are with the victims and all those impacted,” he said.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised first responders.
“Our hearts go out to the people that are victims of this. And I want to again reiterate my thanks to our public safety officers and officials that so rapidly were on the scene,” Watson said. “They definitely saved lives.”
Robert Luckritz, chief of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, said more than 20 EMS resources responded.
“We had more than 20 EMS resources that responded to the scene. We had all critical patients off the scene within 24 minutes, and all patients off the scene within 47 minutes,” Luckritz said.
State Response and Security Concerns
Texas Governor Greg Abbott condemned the attack and ordered the Texas Military Department to activate patrols to protect communities and critical infrastructure, including energy facilities and ports.
He also directed the state’s Department of Public Safety to increase patrols in the Sixth Street area on weekends.
“This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans,” Abbott said in a statement.
Abbott warned the state would respond aggressively to anyone “using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans.”
A Broader Security Question
For investors and policymakers, the incident raises broader concerns about domestic security risks tied to global geopolitical flashpoints. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned that escalating conflicts overseas can inspire lone actors at home.
Federal authorities stress that the investigation is ongoing. Motive remains unconfirmed. But the scale of the attack, and the potential international angle, ensures this case will draw sustained scrutiny from both security officials and the public in the days ahead.
