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By Hollie Silverman
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The suspect in a deadly mass shooting in Austin, Texas, has been identified as Ndiaga Diagne, according to reports from Fox News and the New York Post citing multiple federal law enforcement sources.
According to local law enforcement, the 53-year-old suspect died at the scene. Austin authorities have not formally released a name as of early Sunday afternoon.
Two people died and 14 others were hospitalized in the shooting and the FBI opened a joint investigation into a potential terrorism nexus, according to local officials and federal agents at a Sunday briefing.
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Newsweek reached out to the Travis County Medical Examiner for more information by email Sunday.
The Context
The mass shooting occurred in a dense entertainment district as bars were closing, according to Austin–Travis County EMS.
The FBI’s disclosure that investigators observed “indicators” that suggested a potential link to terrorism elevated national-security concerns while leaving motive undetermined pending further evidence collection.
What To Know
The Austin Police Department (APD) said officers received calls of a male shooting at Buford’s bar on West 6th Street just before 2 a.m. local time Sunday.
Authorities said the suspect drove a large SUV around the block multiple times, activated hazard flashers, rolled down a window, and fired a handgun toward people on Buford’s patio. The suspect then parked on Wood Street, exited with a rifle, and continued to fire while walking eastbound until officers reached an intersection and shot him, officials said.
According to EMS Chief Robert Luckritz, first responders arrived within 57 seconds of the 1:59 a.m. call, treated 17 patients, transported 14 to local hospitals, and pronounced three dead at the scene, with three in critical condition at transport.
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Who Was Ndiaga Diagne?
Diagne, 53, was a naturalized citizen who was born in Senegal who previously lived in New York City and currently lived in Pflugerville, Texas, multiple outlets reported. The Post reported that Diagne was naturalized in 2013 and applied for asylum in 2016.
The newspaper, citing its sources, also reported Diagne had a history of arrests in New York City and Texas.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin shared an image of a person he said was Diagne. The person could be seen carrying a weapon and wearing a sweater that read, “Property of Allah.”
"I am told he was also wearing an undershirt that had an Iranian flag on it," Melugin wrote in a post on X.
Is Terrorism Suspected?
Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office, said his team worked “in lockstep” with APD and deployed evidence response and digital forensics personnel to the scene.
While Doran said it was “way too early” to determine motive, he noted there were indicators “on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism.”
He explained that investigators were reviewing those indicators closely with police.
The shooting comes amid joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
What People Are Saying
Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge for the FBI’s San Antonio office, said during a Sunday press conference: “We have members from our evidence response team, as well as our many other specialty teams including our digital forensics folks that are on scene helping to address the scene and gather additional evidence...It’s still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Sunday in a statement: “This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans. To anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure, understand this clearly: Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state.”
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said, per the Post: “Our hearts go out to the people that are victims of this and I want to reiterate my thanks to our public safety officers and officials that so rapidly were on the scene, they definitely saved lives.”
What Happens Next
APD and the FBI said they would continue to process the scene, review digital evidence, and provide updates on official channels as more information became available.
Community members searching for loved ones are asked to contact APD’s Victim Services Unit at 512-974-5037.
The public is urged the public to avoid the area while evidence teams continue to investigate the scene.
Update 3/1/26, 2:21 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with more information.
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