FBI Probes Terrorism Link in Tragic 6th Street Shooting: 2 Dead, 14 Injured, Shooter Also Killed

In the heart of Downtown Austin, Texas, two people lost their lives and more than a dozen were wounded following a shooting that occurred early on Sunday morning. The assailant, who has also died, brought about the involvement of the FBI in the ongoing investigation.

Law enforcement officers responded to the scene following reports of shots fired at Buford’s bar on West Sixth Street shortly before 2 a.m.

During a morning press briefing, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis revealed that the suspect, Ndiaga Diagne, maneuvered a large SUV repeatedly around the block. He eventually stopped, activated the hazard lights, and began firing a handgun.

After parking near Wood Street, Diagne exited the vehicle and continued his assault, switching from a pistol to a rifle as he progressed eastward along Sixth Street. Officers present in the vicinity engaged the suspect, fatally stopping his attack.

Davis said the suspect never entered Buford’s bar but fired shots from outside the building. She said evidence from the SUV and nearby businesses is still being processed and confirmed that only two weapons – a pistol and a rifle – were recovered. 

Fourteen patients were located at the scene and taken to nearby hospitals, and two victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Three of those hospitalized remain in critical condition.

At least four of the 14 patients have been released from local hospitals, according to St. David’s HealthCare.

The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined the investigation based on preliminary evidence found on the scene.   

FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran said the FBI has sent in multiple specialized teams, including its evidence response and digital forensics units, to help process the scene and analyze evidence. He added investigators are examining potential indicators connected to the suspect but cautioned that it remains too early to determine a motive.

“Obviously it’s still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation,” he said. “But there were indicators that on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism.”

EMT crews were also stationed in the area, which allowed paramedics to respond in under a minute. 

“We had medical care on site treating patients within 57 seconds as part of a program between Austin Travis County EMS and the Austin Police Department where we have paramedics embedded with the teams during the peak of entertainment hours,” said Chief Robert Luckritz with ATCEMS. “All total, 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.” 

“There is no question in my mind that the quick response of the police officers and of our EMS personnel and those professionals made a difference and saved lives,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. “That is an important thing for us to keep in mind as we go through this and we go both the trauma of this and the investigation and that is the very professional, extremely competent and quick response of our police and our other our EMS personnel saving lives under these circumstances.”

Watson said he will continue to update the public throughout the day as more details become available.

At this point, we don’t have information about the victims. As we learn more, we’ll post it here. 

APD said anyone with personal items such as phones, purses, keys or other items that need to be retrieved from the scene should contact Victim Services at 512-974-5037.

The investigation is ongoing, and more information is expected to be released as it becomes available.