Two people were killed and 14 others were wounded outside a Sixth Street beer garden before police shot the gunman.
AUSTIN, Texas — Federal agents joined Austin police on Sunday after a gunman opened fire outside a popular Sixth Street bar just before 2 a.m., killing two people and wounding 14 others before officers confronted and killed him, authorities said.
The FBI said it is investigating the attack as a possible act of terrorism after officials found what they described as “indicators” connected to the suspect and his vehicle. The shooting happened in one of Austin’s busiest nightlife corridors, near the University of Texas campus, and it came a day after the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran, adding to early scrutiny of whether the gunman’s actions were politically or ideologically driven.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the shooter drove past Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden several times before stopping and firing from the window of his SUV at people gathered on a patio and in front of the bar. Davis said the man then parked, stepped out with a rifle and began shooting at people walking along Sixth Street. Officers rushed to a nearby intersection and shot him, Davis said, adding that three victims were in critical condition Sunday morning.
The gunman was identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, according to a Department of Homeland Security statement. A law enforcement official briefed on the case said Diagne was wearing clothing featuring an Iranian flag design and the words “Property of Allah.” Authorities did not immediately release the names of the two people who were killed, and they did not say whether the victims were targeted or were random bystanders caught in the gunfire. Investigators also did not detail what weapons were recovered, beyond police statements that the suspect used both a pistol and a rifle.
Witnesses described confusion and panic in a crowded entertainment district that is typically packed on weekend nights. Nathan Comeaux, a 22-year-old University of Texas senior who had been at the bar with friends, said the scene was “full of college students, probably mostly UT kids, shoulder to shoulder, hundreds just enjoying their nights.” Comeaux said he had stepped outside about 10 minutes before the first shots to grab pizza at a food truck across the street. He said people around him first thought the sound was fireworks or a loud motorcycle. “The UT community has definitely been majorly affected by this,” Comeaux said.
Comeaux said he hid behind a bench for about a minute, then saw officers running toward the gunfire. He pulled out his phone and began recording, he said, when more shots rang out. Comeaux said he saw the suspect turn his gun toward police before officers fired. Austin officials said the district has a heavy police presence on weekends, and Davis said officers were able to confront the gunman within a minute of the first call for help.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force became involved as investigators worked to reconstruct the suspect’s movements, track what he carried with him, and determine whether anyone helped plan the attack. Alex Doran, the acting agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office, said authorities had not reached a clear motive but found “indicators” that led them to examine the possibility of terrorism. “It’s still too early to make a determination on that,” Doran said Sunday morning.
Officials also outlined Diagne’s immigration history as part of early background checks. DHS said Diagne first entered the United States in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa. The agency said he became a lawful permanent resident six years later after marrying a U.S. citizen and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2013. People briefed on the investigation said Diagne was originally from Senegal. Authorities did not say Sunday whether he had a criminal record, whether he had been on the radar of federal investigators, or whether he had posted messages online connected to the attack.
The shooting unfolded in a section of downtown that draws large crowds for bars and live music. Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden sits along Sixth Street, a corridor that runs through the city’s entertainment district and is only a few miles from the University of Texas at Austin. By Sunday evening, police had taped off several square blocks. Local police and federal agents, including agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were visible near the scene, with unmarked vehicles moving in and out of the restricted area.
City leaders praised the speed of the emergency response while acknowledging that the injuries were extensive. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said the quick action by police and rescuers made a difference. “They definitely saved lives,” Watson said. University of Texas at Austin President Jim Davis said on social media that some of those affected were “members of our Longhorn family.” “Our prayers are with the victims and all those impacted,” he said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tied his response to broader security concerns, warning that the state would respond aggressively to anyone trying to “use the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texas.” His statement came as investigators looked at the timing of the shooting and the suspect’s clothing for possible clues, while emphasizing that no final conclusions had been reached. Authorities have not said whether the attack was connected to any organized group or whether the suspect acted alone.
The location has faced violence before, adding to public pressure for answers. Austin’s Sixth Street district has had at least two other high-profile shootings in the past five years, including a 2021 shooting that wounded 14 people. In the hours after Sunday’s attack, residents and business owners in the area watched as police kept the blocks around Sixth Street quiet and largely empty, a sharp contrast to the usual weekend crowds.
Investigators said the next steps include interviewing witnesses, reviewing surveillance video from nearby bars and street cameras, and examining evidence recovered from the suspect’s SUV and any other locations tied to him. Police also said they were continuing to assess the condition of those hospitalized and expected to update the public as victims’ identities could be released and families notified. No criminal charges will be filed against the suspect because he was killed at the scene, but officials said federal and local reviews of the case were ongoing.
By Monday, authorities said the FBI’s terrorism investigation remained in its early stages, with agents still working to determine the motive and whether the “indicators” point to ideology, personal grievance, or something else. Police said the next major update would come after investigators finish initial interviews and evidence processing.
Author note: Last updated March 2, 2026.